
Chapter Six
STORYBROOKE, Maine
"Rebekah?" She could hear Jefferson saying her name, "Can you hear me?"
"I love you so much, Rebekah." His voice was an echo now, as if she were recalling a distant memory of a time that didn't exist.
She felt her head pounding, everything was so loud in her head.
"Don't try and rescue me again, do you hear me? There's too much at stake now."
She had said that. It was her voice in her head. But when had she said that?
"I love you so much. But I need you to protect her now. Promise me that you'll never miss a tea party, okay? And tell her I love her every day."
None of it made sense. The voices in her head, Jefferson's, her own voice – how was it possible that she was hearing conversation between the two of them that they had never had. Rebekah had never said those words to Jefferson, it didn't make sense.
Her eyes were closed and her head was spinning, she could feel herself being lifted up, she mumbled Jefferson's name when she was pressed down against something soft. Don't leave.
Had she asked him not to leave? Or had he asked her not to leave?
"Stay with me."
A hand was pressed to her face, warm, comforting, familiar. She was too hot, her whole body felt like it was in flames – she needed to cool down.
"Hold on, okay?"
Everything felt off, she could hear Jefferson, she had felt his hand on her face only to have it move to her forehead. Something was happening – something had gone wrong.
"I don't feel so good." That was her own voice, she was trying to open her eyes but they felt so heavy in that moment. "Too hot."
She was being lifted again and the next thing she felt was water. Not cold, not hot, lukewarm. Her jeans from the day before clung to her body from the wet and not long after, Rebekah felt water being poured in her hair after her head had been gently moved back, the water was then poured against her neck, and down her chest, on her arms and down her back. Rebekah knew she wasn't laying down, but she felt something keeping her up, something against her back that kept a tight grip on her to keep her from falling.
It felt familiar. The whole thing, the body behind her, the gentleness of the hands rubbing water up and down her arms, the soft murmur of someone whispering that she'd get through this. Who was it? Who was with her?
Jefferson?
He had been there. She had heard his voice, felt his hand against her face, and he had been the one at her door before she collapsed. Was it Jefferson? Was he the one who was taking care of her? The one who felt so familiar to Rebekah.
"Jefferson?" Rebekah said his name, needing to know that it was him holding her against him.
"It's okay, Bex, I got you." He said softly, pouring the water on her neck again.
It was helping. The tepid water against her skin that had felt like it was on fire a few minutes earlier was a remedy she didn't know she needed.
She tried to blink, to open her eyes, but they still felt so heavy. She leaned her head back against the body behind her, felt his chest moving up and down as her head moved so that her face was pressed against a covered neck. "Jefferson," She said his name again before drifting off to sleep.
_________________________________
AGRABAH
Jefferson watched as Rebekah slept next to him, the sun shining down on her bare back, her dark brown hair looking lighter than it had when they arrived. Her skin had a bit of color to it too. Jefferson smiled, his eyes scanning Rebekah's face, her arms were folded on the pillow, holding up her head as she slept. He bit down on his lip, almost not believing that she was really there. That he was in bed next to her and the sun was shining down on her like she was some sort of mystical being.
"It's rude to stare when someone is trying to sleep, Jefferson."
He grinned, of course she had been awake the entire time.
She opened one eye and smiled at him. He chuckled and moved closer to her, both of her eyes opening now as she laid on her side now. "-You look beautiful," Jefferson said, moving his hand to her cheek, his thumb caressing her skin.
"Always so charming." Rebekah beamed at him.
He swallowed hard, wanting nothing more than to tell her now that he was in love with her. Instead, he moved her long hair over her shoulder and his hand swept against her skin, moving down from her shoulder to her arm. He furrowed his brows, "You're burning up." Jefferson said, her skin hot to the touch. He frowned, sitting a bit and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead.
She swatted his hand away, "I'm not used to being somewhere this warm, Jefferson – I just need some water." Rebekah assured him, sitting up a bit as well, dragging the bed sheets along with her. His brows continued to furrow, and Rebekah laughed, "Jefferson, you worry too much." She said, leaning forward a bit so that she could press her lips to his in a sweet kiss, her hand going to the side of his face as she pulled away. "Now, go get me some water and we can look around the city." He smiled, nodding his head and went to fetch a jug of water.
They had been in Agrabah for two days now but had yet to leave their bedroom, which Jefferson didn't mind. But he had promised Rebekah that they'd look around the markets. There was something he wanted to grab, steal, an emerald jewel, a shade slightly lighter than Rebekah's eye color, and when they left Agrabah to travel to a new land, he'd find someone to put the jewel into a ring.
They had been traveling together for a little over a year now. They had stayed in Victor's realm for quite some time, but they had both grown restless and wanted to travel the realms again. They were together, he belonged to her now, there was no changing that. It had only been a few months and he knew that was pretty soon to pop the question – especially when neither of them had uttered those three little words to the other. Well, Jefferson had whispered them in her ear when he knew she was asleep, brushing her hair back as a pressed a kiss under her ear. But he had never told her that he loved her while she was awake.
A part of him wanted her to be the one to say it first. Mostly because he didn't want to scare her away or have her believe his words were a lie. But how could she? He loved Rebekah more than he had ever loved anything in the entire world. Did she not see that? He'd gladly hang up his hat and live in a cottage somewhere selling mushrooms as a living instead of traveling from realm to realm to steal items – he'd do it because he loved her. He'd give it all up because they would be together and no, it wouldn't be lavish or what she deserved, but they'd be together and that's all Jefferson ever needed in the world.
All he needed was Rebekah. And it's all he wanted.
"I forget, have you ever seen a camel?" Jefferson asked as he filled a small goblet for Rebekah with the water. "-They are these creatures who have humps on their back for people to sit on – though, I'm sure they weren't designed for that very purpose." He said with a little chuckle. Jefferson set the jug down and turned around and headed towards the bed where Rebekah was laying down, her back facing him and towards the large window that overlooked the desert. "Don't tell me you've already fallen asleep, Bex." He walked around the bed and saw she had her eyes closed.
Rebekah had been tired a lot lately, which is partially why they had stayed locked up in the room for the last two days – but she swore today would be different.
Jefferson's brows furrowed as he looked at her clammy skin and when he moved closer, he could hear Rebekah taking in quiet shallow breaths. "Bex?" He said her name. She didn't answer and the goblet of water in his hand dropped and hit the floor. He was at her side in an instant, pulling her up and into his arms as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Bex, love, wake up." He gently tapped her cheek with his hand, trying to wake her. But she didn't wake up, her eyes moved faster than they ever had before under her eyelids and Jefferson began to panic. "Bex, sweetheart, please, wake up." He said in a quick breath. "Wake up!"
She didn't.
Jefferson stood up with her swooped into his arms and ran down the stairs in the small inn they had settled in when first arriving. "Help!" He shouted. "Please, help me!"
The people in the room all looked at him like he was a mad man, but no one got up.
"Help me, dammit!" He shouted, his anger getting the best of him.
"I can help you, dearie!"
Jefferson spun around, hearing the voice of one of the last people he'd want to deal with now. But Rumpelstiltskin wasn't behind him.
"Down here, dearie!"
He looked down at the table and saw a cup filled with water, inside the cup was Rumpelstiltskin, he waved his fingers at him. Jefferson looked around the room but no one was paying any mind to him. He looked down at Rebekah and saw that her face had grown even more damp with sweat.
"You do want to save your true love, don't you?" Jefferson glared and nodded his head. Rumpelstiltskin grinned. "That's what I thought – now, I need you to steal just one little item for me from the palace and after I have it, I will help heal dear Rebekah."
He shook his head, not trusting the imp. "No."
"Well, for the sake of your child that she carries inside her – I hope you'll reconsider. You know where to find me." His reflection in the water disappeared.
He looked down at Rebekah, his eyes moving to her stomach. It was flat, not even the slightest bump to indicate that she was with child. Rumpelstiltskin was a trickster, he always lied – why should he believe him.
But, Rebekah's life was on the line – and he couldn't risk that.
Jefferson ran back upstairs and grabbed the hat, not even bothering to dress properly. He wrapped the sheet around Rebekah tighter and spun the hat. He thought of the Enchanted Forest, of Rumpelstiltskin's castle and jumped.
The imp was waiting for him, an evil grin playing on his lips as he saw Jefferson had come right away.
Jefferson glared, "What do you need me to steal?"
_________________________________
STORYBROOKE, Maine
"You do realize that I'm not a doctor, correct?"
Jefferson had been desperate. He had managed to lower Rebekah's temperature, but she was still in and out of it. In the Enchanted Forest, Rumpelstiltskin had helped Jefferson when Rebekah was sick in Agrabah. She had suffered an infection, and if it hadn't been for Rumple, Rebekah and their baby wouldn't have survived. They both hadn't known that she was pregnant with Grace at that time, and though Jefferson did not trust Rumpelstiltskin, he was willing to do anything to save her.
And he was willing to do it again.
"Did you do something to her?" He glared at the man.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Mr. Gold said, walking over to look at Rebekah. "Shouldn't she be in the hospital?"
"Dammit, Rumple!" Jefferson glared, "Enough with the act! She can't hear you!"
Gold walked over to Jefferson, "Be careful with what you say next, dearie. You don't know just how much one can remember while sleeping. For her own safety, I'd advise you to shut your mouth."
Jefferson breathed in and out heavily through his nostrils and followed Gold out of the bedroom.
"Why are you here, Jefferson? Why have you been risking everything by trying to be in Rebekah's life again?" He asked, glaring at the man. "Trying to force her to remember will not break the curse – the savior will break it. And I won't have you interfering with that because you miss your wife."
"What if it were Belle?" Jefferson spat out. "What if she were here and you had to see her walking around the town every single day for the last twenty-eight years and not be able to talk to her, to hear her voice, to hold her in your arms – what would you do?!"
Gold held on to his cane, standing up a bit straighter. "We both know that your little scenario with Belle is not possible." That's what he thought.
"Please," Jefferson began to say.
"All I can help you with is calling an ambulance and saying that I found her." Gold told him. "There is no magic in this land – there is no way I can cure her with a simple tonic – she needs to be monitored by someone who knows what they're doing. Your friend; Victor, he can help her. So, you need to decide; have me call an ambulance for her – or stay and watch her get worse."
Jefferson closed his eyes, jaw clenching. He knew Gold was right; that she needed to be somewhere that professionals could watch over her. But he couldn't risk Regina finding out he was there with her again. Which meant he'd have to stay away.
"How are you even going to explain everything?" Jefferson said as he looked to Gold. "Are you going to tell them that you hopped into the bath with her and that's why her clothes are wet? How are you even going to explain how you got in the apartment?"
"Well, for starters – you are going to change her into something dry, and I'll tell them that I came by and when she answered the door she passed out."
"I can't change her." Jefferson said, not feeling right by invading her privacy that way.
She was his wife.
Not here.
He'd seen her naked many times before.
Not here.
He was her husband.
Not here.
Gold rolled his eyes, "Would you prefer I do it?"
Jefferson glared. "No."
"Then get to it."
It wasn't right to undress Rebekah without her consent in this world where they were basically strangers (he knew who she was, but she had no idea who he was to her) it would be wrong – it would be an invasion of her privacy that he did not want to cross. So, he walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bed next to Rebekah. "Bex," He said her name softly, picking up her hand and holding it. "I have to change your clothes." He told her. "Just..." Dammit, wake up. Please. "-Squeeze my hand to let me know you hear me, that it's okay?"
Her fingers wrapped around his hand and squeezed, her lips moved as she began to mumble something not audible. His brows furrowed when he moved the back of his hand to her forehead again, feeling that the temperature was coming back.
Jefferson sat up and went through her drawers, picking out a nightgown that would be easy to slip on Rebekah. When he moved his hand behind her back to help her sit up, she limply moved her hands around his shoulders, face smothering against his scarf still mumbling something that he couldn't make out. Jefferson lifted her shirt off and forced himself not to let his eyes linger while he slipped the nightgown over her head and pulled it down. He tugged off her jeans once her nightgown was covering her legs up above her knees.
He placed her down on the bed again, but when he went to leave, she gripped onto his hand stronger than she had been able to moments earlier. "Don't. Leave." He heard more clearly. Jefferson looked down at her, head tilting a bit as he tried to examine her face for any signs that she might be getting better. He lowered his head to listen to her breathing, hearing that it was steadier. When he moved up a bit, Rebekah was blinking her eyes open, he could still tell that they were hazy, but her green eyes were big and bright and his lips were so closer to hers that his breath caught in his throat.
Rebekah closed her eyes slowly but tilted her head to lift up, her lips brushing against his for a brief moment before she laid back down. Her skin was returning to it's normal shade, as she licked at her lips, her breathing became more regular, and Jefferson had to move a bit away from her, shocked that she was somehow healing.
She had kissed him...and somehow that had healed her.
There was no such thing as True Love's kiss in this world – there was no magic! How in the Hell was this even possible? "Rebekah?" He said her name slowly and she let out a little noise as she moved a bit in her bed, inhaling through her nose deeply before she opened her eyes.
"Jefferson?" She said once her eyes were open, confusion in her tone. "-Why are you...what happened?"
They both jumped slightly when another voice joined the conversation, "I believe you had a bad reaction to your pain pills, Rebekah." Mr. Gold was walking towards them, holding the bottle in his free hand. "I came just as Jefferson was about to call 911. I told him that perhaps he should try to break the fever himself before calling for help."
Jefferson looked at Gold, not understanding why he was covering for him. He felt Rebekah hold onto his hand and he looked back at her. "You took care of me?" She asked, sitting up a bit. Jefferson nodded and watched as Rebekah softly smiled.
"I'm glad to see that you're okay, Rebekah – I left some paperwork on your kitchen counter for you if you'd still like to accept the job." Gold said to Rebekah, "-But since you are okay, I will be leaving now."
"-Mr. Gold," Rebekah said his name before he could leave the bedroom. He looked over his shoulder at them. "Can you...not tell my sister about this?"
He chuckled, "I wouldn't dream of it, dearie. If I did, I'd have to find someone else to hire. I can't risk that." Gold chuckled and Jefferson frowned. What job?
Gold left and Jefferson looked back at Rebekah, "I'll be right back." He told her and followed after Gold. The man was standing at the door waiting for him. "-What just happened?"
"I wanted to test a theory." He smirked.
"So, you did do something to her." He seethed, stepping closer to Gold. The man was powerless here, and he should be scared of Jefferson if he did something to hurt Rebekah. "I swear to God, Gold – if you did anything,"
"-Relax, Jefferson." Gold told him, using his cane to push Jefferson back again. "I didn't do anything, I only came here to deliver the papers – it's coincidence that she had a bad reaction to her medication – that, you should be looking at Regina for. But it did help test my theory."
"And what was your theory?"
Gold simply smirked, but before Jefferson could get any answers out of him, Rebekah called his name. "You better tend to her." Gold said before slipping out of the apartment.
He watched the door but went back to the bedroom when Rebekah called his name for the second time. He'd confront Gold later on, right now? He'd stay with Rebekah for as long as she wanted him to.
_________________________________
ENCHANTED FOREST
"Can't you give her something?" Jefferson asked as Rumpelstiltskin drew a bath for Rebekah. Jefferson held her in his arms, keeping her body pressed against his tightly in fear of what the imp might do. "A remedy? Tonic? If she is pregnant – I'm sure this has happened to women before and there is some sort of cure."
"The cut on her foot." Gold said, looking back at Jefferson. "Has she complained about it at all?"
Rebekah had sliced her foot on a piece of glass that cut through her slipper when they first arrived to Agrabah – it had bled for only a moment before a woman wrapped it in a cloth tightly to stop the bleeding and keep Rebekah's slippers from getting bloody. Jefferson had paid her with a stone he had once stolen from a land called Arendelle and the woman had gladly taken it after pointing Rebekah and Jefferson towards the nearest Inn.
"Far too much sand in Agrabah – why you chose that place to take dear Rebekah, I will never understand – but because you did, when Rebekah got a cut on her foot, sand entered the wound. Now, if it were any other land, washing the foot with warm water would have done the trick – which I'm sure you did. But the sand in Agrabah is laced with magic."
"Magic is the reason she is sick?" Rumpelstiltskin nodded, smiling. "And why is this amusing to you?"
He giggled and motioned for Jefferson to bring Rebekah into the bath. He did, climbing in with her so that the sheets around her wouldn't fall off. He poured the water on her skin and continued on until her flesh wasn't burning up.
"Now what?" Jefferson asked, still sitting in the tub with Rebekah.
"Now, you go back to Agrabah and get me what I need." Rumpelstiltskin told him. He snapped his fingers and Rebekah disappeared from Jefferson's hold. He got up immediately, getting out of the tub and charged towards the imp only to be frozen in place. "Relax, dearie, I simply moved her to a more comfortable room." A mirror appeared in Rumples hand and Jefferson saw that Rebekah was sleeping soundly in a bed.
"How do I not know this isn't just something you've conjured up?" Jefferson glared.
"You don't! But if you want me to save her life – you will go back to Agrabah and grab me this," The mirror that showed had Rebekah changed images, now showing a picture of a simple door knob. Jefferson looked at Rumpelstiltskin in confusion.
"A doorknob?"
"It'll be a new addition to your hat – it'll help me greatly whenever I need to call on you in the future." Jefferson hesitated and Rumple raised his brow. "Are you willing to risk your true love dying?"
He inhaled and walked away from Rumpelstiltskin and grabbed his hat. "If anything happens to her," He said, his voice rough and low.
"Yes, yes, let's not waste our time with threats when it's so precious. Go on now."
He spun the hat and when the clouds of purple appeared, he took one last look at Rumpelstiltskin before he jumped into the portal.
Jefferson was back in Agrabah, the city was busier than ever. He went back to the Inn to gather their belongings, knowing that when he succeeded in stealing the object for Rumple, there would be no time to go grab them. He'd need to have their things ready to go in an instant.
It wouldn't be easy. In fact, it would be incredibly hard. But he had snuck into far more guarded castles than this. Hell, he had managed to get into Rebekah's room that had been sealed with magic to keep anyone other than Regina out. Rumpelstiltskin helped though. Jefferson looked to the bed that they had been laying in earlier, he could still smell the scent of Rebekah's hair, the sound of her breathing lightly and the slight smile on her lips as she dreamed. He felt his heart tighten and stomach churn. If Jefferson couldn't get the doorknob for Rumple, he might never see Rebekah smile again. He wouldn't see her green eyes open and watch them glimmer as she beamed up at him. Jefferson would never hear her laugh or have his heart spin whenever he caught her staring at him. He'd lose all of that. He'd lose her.
So, any risk he needed to take to make sure Rebekah lived – he would. And he'd do it gladly.
_________________________________
STORYBROOKE, Maine
"I made you some tea." Jefferson said as he walked back into Rebekah's bedroom. She was sitting up now, slowly sipping a glass of water while icing her ribs. She looked up at him and smiled softly.
"Thank you, Jefferson." Rebekah said as she set down the glass of water and extended her hand for him to give her the cup of tea. He looked down, trying to hide his smile. But he was so happy that she was awake, and that she was better and was well enough to even sit up.
"You had a few packets in there – but I grabbed one that I like best." The one you loved. He had made it for her when she was pregnant with Grace and was feeling too tired and sick to do anything. He'd give her the tea and she'd feel better and her spirits would be lifted. His heart felt like it was soaring when he saw the packet in her cupboard along with the special ingredient he would always put in there before everything went to Hell.
The tea he had made Rebekah had also become their daughters favorite as well.
Rebekah took the tea cup, her fingers brushing against his as she did so and Jefferson watched as a blush crept up her neck. He smiled, watching as she brought the cup to her lips and took a sip. Her eyes widened as she looked up at Jefferson with a wide grin after swallowing the tea. "-How did you know to add cinnamon to the tea?" She asked.
Vanilla tea with a dash of cinnamon. It was something that always brought Rebekah comfort after having it so much while pregnant with Grace.
He smiled sadly, remembering the way her lips would form into a happy smile whenever she took a sip of the tea and he lean over and press a soft kiss to her lips while she sat in the rocking chair, her hand caressing her growing belly and would lean back and continue to rock, telling the baby stories while her fingers gently skimmed across her belly. Rebekah would giggle and Jefferson knew that meant the baby was kicking. She would always call him over and grab his hand and place it down on her belly, I think the baby is ticklish, Rebekah would tell him. Jefferson sat up a bit, trying not to be swept away by his memories. Especially when Rebekah was right in front of him. So, he cleared his throat and looked to her, "Someone very important drank their tea that way." Jefferson said.
Rebekah's eyebrow quirked up in amusement. "Jefferson...are you telling me that you had a friend before?"
He laughed, taking a seat on the edge of her bed and watched as Rebekah grinned cheekily. "I know, shocking." He went along with her teasing. "But...she was more than a friend."
She frowned, and Jefferson had to turn his head a bit to keep from smiling. When he looked back at her, she was licking at her lower lip and avoiding his eyes. "I didn't know," Rebekah said quietly. "Are...are you two together, or still together?" Her green eyes moved back to look at Jefferson.
He looked at Rebekah for a moment before answering, "Not for a very long time."
It was true. Twenty-eight years. And now he was sitting in her bedroom on her bed looking her in those beautiful green eyes and watching as she tried to figure out what to ask next. Would she ask him more about who he was referring to? Would he see the way her nose would crinkle and brows would furrow just like they used to whenever something was bothering her (jealously – though, she never needed to be jealous of any other woman in the world. But that was just Jefferson's opinion.)
"How are the ribs?" He asked, knowing that changing the subject would more than likely make Rebekah very happy. And it had, she smiled and gently pressed her hand to her side.
"Still a little sore but feeling a bit better." She sat back a bit, her hair cascading over her shoulder. Jefferson looked down at his hands, trying not to think about how it once felt to have his fingers run through her hair. It wasn't as long as it had been back in the Enchanted Forest, but it was still just as beautiful. "Can I ask you a question?"
He looked up after hearing Rebekah speak again and nodded his head.
Rebekah's eyes locked with his. "You could have just called 911 and left before the ambulance came...why'd you stay? Why'd you go through all the trouble to try and help me?"
Because you're my wife and I love you. Because I lost you twice now and I refuse to make it a third?
He moved his hand closer to hers, his fingertips barely touching her own. "I couldn't leave you." Jefferson could hear her take in a shaky breath and watched as her shaky fingers skimmed across his fingertips, the skin to skin contact making him sigh happily.
Rebekah licked at her lips when he looked back at her instead of their hands, "I know we're strangers, Jefferson, but...it doesn't feel that way." She let out a chuckle, the one she always did when she was nervous or flustered. "-That's sounds crazy, I know. But..."
"It doesn't sound crazy." Jefferson told her, moving his hand on top of hers now. "Not in the slightest."
Rebekah closed her eyes and began to speak, "The woman who drank her tea with cinnamon, the one that was very important to you...did you love her?" Her eyes opened and she looked up at him again.
Jefferson felt his heart thumping rapidly against his chest, he nodded his head, never breaking eye contact with Rebekah.
"She was lucky." Her voice was barely above a whisper and Jefferson had to use all of his self-control to stop himself from moving forward and capturing her lips with his own. The slight brush of her lips against his earlier wasn't enough – he wanted so much more. God, he missed her, he missed the way it felt to hold her, he missed that whenever they kissed he could taste a little hint of cinnamon on her tongue and he knew that if he kissed her now, he'd taste it again.
But he couldn't.
After moments passed and Jefferson still hadn't made a move, Rebekah slowly pulled her hand away from his. "What time is it?" She asked, moving to grab her phone off of her nightstand to check the time. Her eyes widened when she looked at the screen, "Oh my God." Her voice broke and she quickly stood up.
"Hey, hey," Jefferson said, standing up and moved his hands to her hips to keep her upright. "What's going on?" He asked, her green eyes looked up at him, wild and full of tears. Jefferson moved his hand to her hair and pushed it behind her ear. "What happened?"
"Um," Her lower lip trembled as she gripped onto the sleeve of his shirt. "Graham has been texting me all morning but I put my phone on silent last night so I could sleep – uh, Henry." Her voice cracked when she said her nephews name. "He went to the sinkhole, I guess there's a mine-shaft down there and there was an aftershock and now...he's trapped in there with Dr. Hopper."
Jefferson watched as Rebekah's face crumpled and her fear took over and he did what he always would do. He pulled her into his arms and let her cry while holding onto him until she was ready to face her fears head on. Rebekah wrapped her arms around his middle and hid her face against his chest, her felt the dampness of her tears against his shirt. "Get dressed, I'll take you there." Jefferson whispered against her hair, his cheek resting against the top of her head.
Rebekah pulled away, using the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. "You can't, it's too risky – if Regina sees us together,"
"Rebekah," He said her name, "Go get dressed. I'll take you to where Henry is so you can be there when they get him out."
She looked up at him, tears still in her eyes and bottom lip still trembling, "What if they can't?"
Jefferson moved his hands onto her shoulders, "I'll go down there myself to bring him out if they say they can't." He watched as she swallowed hard, looking up at Jefferson as she tried to compose herself. "Go get dressed."
Rebekah nodded her head and slipped away from him to go change her clothes. Jefferson walked out of her bedroom to give her privacy and sat down on her couch. He closed his eyes, knowing that if Regina were to see them together, Grace was in danger. He stayed that way for a couple minutes before his eyes snapped open.
"You don't have to do this, Jefferson." Rebekah said, he turned his head and saw she was dressed now, watching him as he sat on the couch waiting for him. "I don't know what she's holding over your head to keep you away from me but...if it's not worth risking...I understand."
He shook his head, "I can drive you." Jefferson said, "And I'll be a bit away in the woods, but I promise you that I'll stay until Henry is safe. And if you need me, I won't be too far."
It wasn't safe.
It was risky as Hell.
But his wife needed him.
How could he not be there for her?
_________________________________
ENCHANTED FOREST
Jefferson tossed the doorknob to Rumpelstiltskin, wiping the blood away from his lip when one of the guards threw a punch when they caught him fleeing the Palace. He didn't think he was going to make it, but he saw Rebekah's face in his head and knew he needed to fight. He needed to get to her. "Where is she?" He demanded Rumpelstiltskin tell him.
"-Upstairs, sixth bedroom on the right side. Oh, and dearie," Rumpelstiltskin said when Jefferson turned to leave the room and head upstairs. "I'll need the hat."
His hat had been the most important thing to him, his most prized possession, Jefferson never thought a day would come that he'd willingly hand it over to someone, let alone throw it at them like it was something as ordinary as a scarf, and then run out of the room.
But now he had Rebekah. And if Rumple wasn't lying; he had their he child too. That hat didn't matter to him anymore. His family did.
He found her in the bedroom Rumple told him she'd be in. She was laying on the bed, eyes still closed but her skin no longer hot to the touch when he finally got to her.
"Bex," He said her name softy, hand moving to her face to brush away her hair. "I'm back, love. I'm here." She didn't move. He wanted to go downstairs and tell Rumpelstiltskin to heal her now – but he couldn't move. Jefferson looked down at her, his eyes filling with tears as he moved his hand down to rest on her stomach. He knew that Rumple had stolen the power of a Seer long ago, and if he wasn't lying, that's how he knew Rebekah was pregnant. But why had he looked into their future?
Rumple wanted to go to a land, a land where there was no magic, but that was impossible. The hat only worked because of magic. It wouldn't be able to travel to a world that had no magic, and if somehow it did – they'd be trapped in that land forever. So why he still monitored Jefferson's future, he did not understand. Maybe the doorknob had something to do with getting Rumple to the land without magic. Maybe somehow, he and Rebekah were his way to get to that land.
Jefferson looked down at Rebekah, watching as he chest moved up and down slowly. Jefferson's thumb rubbed just above her belly button, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine holding their child in his arms. A child that was part him and part Rebekah. Would he be a good father? Rebekah would be a wonderful mother, he already knew that. But would he let them down?
He looked back to Rebekah when he heard her let out a little breath. Jefferson laid down on the bed next to her, moving her body so it was facing his. His hand went to her face, tears stinging in his eyes as he tried to envision a life without her. It wasn't a life he wanted. "Please wake up." He whispered, thumb rubbing against her cheek. "I love you so much." Jefferson moved forward and pressed his lips softly against hers and when he pulled away, Rebekah woke up with a gasp.
She blinked over and over again up at him, Rebekah took in a shaky breath and then smiled at Jefferson. "I wanted to be the first one to say it."
Jefferson didn't understand – Rebekah hadn't been cursed, True Love's kiss wouldn't have worked because she had only gotten sick? How the Hell was she awake right now. "Bex?" He said her name in a whisper.
She grinned and pulled him down to kiss her again. He did, and his arms wrapped around her middle as the tears finally fell, so happy that she was awake and no longer sick. Rebekah pulled her head back a bit, smiling up at Jefferson. "I love you, too."
"-I see you won't be needing my assistance after all,"
Rebekah gasped when she saw who it was, and Jefferson instinctively pulled her body closer to his. They were still laying on the bed, and Jefferson all but hovered his body over hers to protect her from the danger that was Rumpelstiltskin. Her arms tightened around his shoulders, "-How..." She looked around at their surroundings. "-Where are we?"
"You're at my castle, dearie." Rumpelstiltskin answered.
Jefferson sat them up on the bed and glared at Rumple. "-You knew she'd wake up." He said, realizing that Rumple had taken advantage of him and Rebekah.
"Well, I knew it was the only way you'd ever agree to help me – if Rebekah's life was in the balance, or so you believed. And now I have what I wanted and you have her back. And as a bonus, I upgraded your hat."
"What is he talking about?" Rebekah asked in confusion, hand resting against Jefferson's chest.
Jefferson opened his mouth to speak but Rumpelstiltskin cut him off, "My congrats to the happy couple." He snapped his fingers and the hat appeared on the bed. "But I do suggest you get going now. If Regina finds out you're here, I don't think you'd like the outcome."
Jefferson grabbed the hat and spun it on the ground. He picked Rebekah up in his arms, worried that she might still be too weak, and jumped. But instead of falling to another realm, the one he had thought of in his mind – they were in a room.
"Where are we?" Rebekah whispered, tugging at Jefferson to let her down. He did so, keeping his arm around her waist as they looked around. It was a room full of doors. Each of the doors were circular, rounded with red curtains. Jefferson looked down at the floor, seeing it was made of dark stone with a golden pattern laid into it.
"I," He looked at each door, "-I think...we're inside the hat?"
"What?" Rebekah spun out of his hold to look at him. "He trapped us here?"
Jefferson shook his head, not looking at Rebekah but at each door.
There was a tan door, a gray one, a pink brick door, a lime green door with a window or mirror centered in the middle, a brown door with tree design on it, a sky blue door with four gray handles, a medieval brown and gray door, a light red door with logograms, a dark red door with a white patter, a red oriental door, a door with an emerald green curtain, instead of the rest that had a red curtain, there was a looking glass (Jefferson was sure that one was Wonderland), and a glass elevator door. His eyes scanned a few more of the doors, seeing now a light brown door with windows on the top of it, as well as its sides, a pink door with a dark square in the center, a dark gray door, and a wooden door with a stone frame.
There were so many more, the room so large that Jefferson couldn't possibly imagine going through each door – "I believe each door is a portal. Rumple had me steal something in Agrabah for the hat..." Jefferson grabbed Rebekah's hand and pulled her forward towards a door that had a note taped to it.
He grabbed it with his free hand and read over the words, Same rules apply. Apart from you and Rebekah, any other number of people that go into the hat must come out. Otherwise they will be left behind. Consider this my gift to you.
Jefferson's brows furrowed as he read over the note again, he felt Rebekah rest her head against his arm as she read over them as well.
"Why is he giving you a gift?" Rebekah asked, not understanding. "And why did he say congratulations earlier, Jefferson?"
Jefferson's eyes tore away from the note and he moved to stand in front of Rebekah, a soft smile playing on his lips now. "Because you're pregnant."
She laughed at that, "I am not pregnant!" He just kept smiling and Rebekah scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous, surely I would know if I were pregnant!" Jefferson now grinned, pressing his hand to her stomach. His eyes locked with hers and she raised her brows in surprise and slowly began to smile, "I'm pregnant?" He nodded his head slowly, still grinning. She then frowned, moving to rest her hand on top of his, "What if he's lying?"
Jefferson frowned now, "I'm choosing to believe he isn't lying...because I can't think of anything I want more than I want this right now. To be here with you, our baby growing inside you at this very moment, I love you so much, Rebekah. And if there's a chance that he is lying...know that this is what I wanted. Know that his is all I will ever want."
Rebekah's eyes filled with tears and she moved forward, pressing her lips to his as her hand rest on his cheek. "I love you, too." She whispered. "So much." Rebekah then looked around at the numerous doors and let out a little laugh, "How will we ever know where we're going now?"
Jefferson chuckled, pulling her body closer to his, "I guess we'll just have to test them all out."
"I suppose it's better than just hopping between each land we know about."
He took in a deep breath, "You pick."
Rebekah grinned and pulled away from him, standing in front of the pink door. He laughed, shaking his head but followed after her. Jefferson grabbed her hand and together they stepped through the door. With his free hand, he patted his pocket to make sure the emerald he had stolen was still safely in his pocket.
Before he left the Palace after successfully stealing the doorknob, Jefferson grabbed one last item. The emerald he had been planning on stealing to make a ring out of for Rebekah.
The ring that he would soon propose to her with.
_________________________________
STORYBROOKE, Maine
"Graham!" Rebekah yelled, running up to the site, Graham got to her before she could cross the yellow tape that kept out the rest of the towns people. Rebekah briefly saw Regina spot her, her older sister's eyes widening upon seeing her there.
"Rebekah, Jesus!" Graham said as he grabbed her by the arms when she tripped over a rock, keeping her up right while she struggled to break free from his grip. "I've been trying to reach you all morning!" Rebekah ignored his words, trying to move past him to get to the mines Henry was trapped in with Dr. Hopper.
"I heard another explosion on my way in – what happened? Dammit! Let go of me, Graham!" She argued when he wouldn't let go.
"Rebekah!" She heard Emma shout her name. She looked up at Graham who sighed before finally letting her go, watching as she ran off in Emma's direction.
"What the hell happened?" She said, feeling breathless from the little bit of running she had done, as well as he struggling to break out of Graham's hold.
"Henry went into the mines and there was an aftershock – we thought that by using dynamite we might be able to get through,"
"-You did what?" Rebekah said, her voice raising. "How could you do that while he was still in there!"
"We shouldn't have," Rebekah heard Regina say. "I shouldn't have trusted Ms. Swan, but she seemed to believe that the idea would work."
"Madam Mayor," Emma said through her teeth, "You do not get to blame this on me! I was just as skeptical as you but we were desperate! We still are!"
"Both of you shut up!" Rebekah yelled, "-We need a way to find them!"
"If we knew exactly where they were, we can drill down to them," Marco said, coming up to the three women with Graham joining him. "Maybe...maybe rig something to bring them back up."
Rebekah watched from the corner of her eye as Emma ran away from them and over to Archie's dog that continued to bark.
"Where would we even know to drill?" Rebekah asked. And then Regina did something that surprised her. Her older sister grabbed a hold of her hand and squeezed it. Rebekah looked up at her, seeing the way she closed her eyes while trying to hide how terrified she was in that moment.
Maybe Regina did love Henry...just in her own way?
Rebekah squeezed her hand back.
"-Archie's dog!" Emma said, causing Regina to let go of Rebekah's hand. "He's found something!" She said causing Regina, Rebekah, and Graham to hurry over to where the dog was sniffing. The dog began to whimper and dig at the ground. "Look! This is where they must be! What is it, boy?" She asked the dog and Rebekah, Marco, and Graham all got on their knees and began to dig with their hands.
"Rebekah, don't." Regina said, gently moving her hand to Rebekah's shoulder, "You're still healing."
Graham placed his hand on Rebekah's and agreed with Regina. "We got it, I promise."
Regina helped Rebekah stand up, her arm wrapping around her little sister's side to pull her closer. Rebekah was so confused – she understood that in this moment Regina must be terrified, she was too! But the affection Regina was showing Rebekah now seemed different...maybe as if she felt guilty for some reason?
Was it because Rebekah had basically raised Henry? Did Regina feel guilt that she hadn't been the best mother she could have to her son? She didn't know. But it left an odd taste in her mouth.
Marco and Graham removed a piece of iron that they had found under the dirt and underneath it was a way to get in to the mines.
"-What is that?" Emma asked,
"-It's an air shaft." Graham replied.
"Is it a way in?" Rebekah looked to Marco.
"With the right equipment...yes."
_________________________________
Jefferson had planned on staying in the woods, but Rebekah was in a place that he couldn't see her. So, he snuck in with the crowd of people, praying that Regina didn't spot him. He watched Rebekah pace around while they removed something from the ground. He heard some people talk about it being an air shaft – a way inside to save Henry and Dr. Hopper.
He needed to know what was happening, so he moved even closer. He listened as Marco began to speak.
"We need to lower someone straight down, or the line will collapse the sides of the shaft."
"-I've got a harness." Graham told them.
"Good, because I'm going down." Jefferson heard Rebekah say.
Dammit, woman! He used all his self-control not to walk up to them and grab Rebekah and take her back home so she wouldn't be putting herself so willingly in a life or death type of situation.
"Not even a damn option, Rebekah." He heard Graham say in a strict tone.
The Huntsman had always been quite protective of Rebekah, and Jefferson was glad for that. He hoped that while she was trapped by Regina before the curse, The Huntsman had still been a friend to her.
"Lower me down," Regina said next, cutting Rebekah off from arguing with Graham.
"Oh, no way. I'm going." Emma argued.
"He's my son!" Regina said loudly to Emma.
There was a brief moment of silence before Emma answered back, "He's my son, too." It took a moment for her to speak again and Jefferson could almost imagine the look of absolute rage on Regina's face. "-You've been sitting behind a desk for ten years – I can do this."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," He heard Rebekah say and couldn't help but move himself so that he could see what was happening.
He watched as Regina was now in Emma's face and had the same thought that Rebekah probably had – that Regina was going to knock Emma out.
Instead, she said; "Just bring him to me."
He looked away from them and over to where Rebekah who was standing next to Graham. She spotted him now, her eyes widening briefly in shock that he was so close. "Uh, Graham, I'll go with you to get the harness." She said, motioning her head for Jefferson to follow.
He did, and when Rebekah and Graham were off on their own, he picked a secluded place that Rebekah could still spot him in, but one that no one else would be able to see them.
After a few minutes, Rebekah found him. "Regina could have seen you!" She said in a whisper.
He chuckled, seeing how worked up she was getting. "Oh, come on, I'm the town hermit, nobody notices me."
"Yeah, tell that to your face." Rebekah mumbled, her face instantly breaking out into a blush when she realized that she had said it out loud. When she looked back at him, he was grinning with one brow raised. "Shut up," She mumbled, pressing her hand to her side.
"How is it feeling?" He asked, moving his hand to rest on top of hers. She didn't jump or move her hand away from his, she just sighed.
"Whale wasn't kidding when he said to limit my physical activities." Rebekah said, wincing a little when she put too much pressure on it.
"-And yet you just volunteered to be lowered down into a mineshaft." Jefferson teased, but it seemed to bring Rebekah back to the reality that was before them. Henry was still trapped. She looked up at Jefferson and he dropped his hand, smiling softly. "Go. I'll be here when he's out."
She smiled, nodding her head and turned to leave. But before she did, she stopped. "Can you come to my place tonight? Around 10?"
Jefferson fought so hard against grinning like an idiot. But he failed. "Okay."
Rebekah chuckled, shaking her head, and walked away from him.
She wanted him to come back.
He started to walk a bit closer to the site and froze when he heard his daughters voice.
"Bex!" She shouted, running into Rebekah's arms. He watched as she winced but didn't pull away from their daughter. Rebekah had crouched down so she was at eye level with Grace and thought he couldn't hear what they were saying; he could see that she was clearly comforting her. Rebekah had both her hands on their daughter's cheeks and was looking at her with soft eyes. It made a lump form in her throat thinking about how they had both missed so much.
"Paige!"
Jefferson saw Rebekah stand up while holding onto her side. The couple who were Rebekah and Jefferson's daughter's parents in this curse walked up to where Rebekah and Grace were standing. He tried not to get too angry as he watched Mr. Grace (very funny, Regina) wrap his arm around 'Paige' and the little girl began to rest her head against his side. It hurt to see her being raised by another man, by another woman. It killed him. But there was nothing he could do about it – he just had to wait for the Savior; Emma Swan, to break the curse.
Rebekah spoke briefly with Mr. and Mrs. Grace before Graham yelled for her and she left them. Jefferson watched as their daughter stayed in place, her eyes glued to Rebekah as she walked away.
He still remembered the sound of Grace sobbing when Regina took Rebekah away.
It was the sound that replayed in his head over and over every single day while he was trapped in Wonderland.
Jefferson felt overwhelmed after seeing Grace and Rebekah together. He walked out of the secluded area and back over to his car.
He loved Rebekah, he truly did. But seeing his wife and their daughter together and not be able to be a family with them – it was killing him.
So, he drove away and hoped that Rebekah would forgive him.
Rebekah placed her hand over her mouth as everyone clapped, tears spilling out of her eyes as she watched them pulled out Emma, Henry, and Archie. Regina had grabbed Henry first, pulling him into a hug. She then pulled him over to the side while Graham unhooked Emma.
She wanted to thank Emma, but hugging Henry was so much more important to her in that moment. So, she went after Regina and once she was in front of the little boy, she bent down and wrapped her arms around his small frame. "Don't you dare ever do something that dangerous again!" Rebekah said, but her tone wasn't angry or cold. It was laced with relief and love and the tinniest hint of worry.
Henry laughed, hugging her back gently. "I'll try not to, Auntie Bex."
Rebekah let go of Henry and ruffled his hair. Emma was running towards them now and Rebekah could see that Regina was trying to occupy Henry's attention away from his birth mother. But Emma was at Henry's side now, pressing her hand to his arm as she smiled. "Are you okay?" She asked, and Henry smiled up at her. She moved her hand to touch his cheek and Regina stopped her, pushing her hand away from Henry.
"Deputy, you can clear the crowd away."
Emma stumbled back a bit and Rebekah could see the hurt in her eyes.
"Hey," Rebekah said once Regina took Henry elsewhere. "Thank you." Emma looked pissed. Like she was about to go after Regina any second now. So, Rebekah pulled her into a hug. "I am so grateful for you, Emma. You just saved Henry's life." She felt the tension Emma was holding slowly leave her body. "Henry is so lucky to have a mother who is willing to go to such extremes to protect him." Emma's arms that had been dangling at her side moved up now, finally hugging Rebekah back. "Thank you."
Emma nodded her head, hugging Rebekah back. "Thank you."
They separated, and Rebekah brought Henry over to Paige, who quickly engulfed him into a hug, causing them both to erupt into a fit of laughter. Rebekah smiled as she watched the two children talk animatedly about what had just happened. She sat with Henry and Paige and listened as Henry went on and on about the tunnels and how Archie had saved his life. And when it finally started to get dark and a chill picked up, Rebekah was very aware that she was only in a t-shirt and jeans.
A whistle made her look away from Henry and Paige and she looked over in the direction the sound came from. She chuckled quietly when she saw Graham watching her as he leaned against the tow truck, holding out his sheriff jacket.
"I'll be right back you guys." Rebekah told Henry and Paige as she got up and walked over to Graham.
He held out his jacket and Rebekah turned so that he could help her put the jacket on, her broken ribs aching since she had first hugged Henry when he was safe and out of the mine shaft. "I'd offer you a ride home, but I know you better than to think you'd leave with Henry still here. So, I figured my jacket would do." He chuckled, turning her around to face him once the jacket was on. "How you feeling?"
"Like Hell." Rebekah told him honestly.
He frowned, "Why did it take you so long to get here?"
She hated lying to Graham. But she didn't want to put him in the position where he'd have to lie for her to Regina. "I took a pain pill last night and it really knocked me out." Technically that wasn't a lie. "But as soon as I woke up and saw all your messages I came immediately."
He gave her a skeptical look.
"Honestly Graham, I'm okay. It was just the pain pill."
"Listen, I know you don't always like the fact that I have placed upon myself the role of surrogate older brother to you – but if something is going on that you feel like you can't tell me...know that you can. I'm here for you, Rebekah, whether you like it or not."
Rebekah let out a little huff of a laugh and didn't push Graham away when he pulled her to his side in a little hug. "You're wrong, Graham." She said quietly, watching as Henry walked over to sit next to Emma. "I appreciate the fact that you care enough about me to put the role of surrogate older on yourself...it's nice to have someone care that much about me." She moved out of his arms and looked up at him. "And I promise, I'd come to you if something was going on."
He nodded his head and pulled Rebekah to his side again. They stayed that way, Rebekah watching her nephew speak with his birth-mother, and Graham watching said birthmother who he clearly fancied.
"When are you going to grow a pair and ask her out?" Rebekah said.
Graham laughed at that, "Shut up."
It was getting dark now and Rebekah left with Regina and Henry to grab a bite to eat at Granny's. The entire time they were there, Regina watched Rebekah closely, almost like she was suspicious. When Regina dropped her off at her apartment, both sisters got out of the car, Regina telling Henry to wait inside the warm vehicle, so she could talk to his aunt.
"Quite the day." Regina said as they stood by the front door to Rebekah's apartment building.
Rebekah nodded her head in agreement and then chuckled a little, "God, I love Henry, but when he does things like this it makes me want to throttle him."
Regina surprised Rebekah and laughed at that, "Tell me about it."
"I'm just glad he's safe." Rebekah said, and Regina smiled and looked back at the car where Henry had climbed over the seats to sit in the front. "-I should get inside and ice my side." Rebekah watched as Regina quickly looked back at her.
"Graham said that those pain pills really knocked you out?" She said, as if it were a question. Rebekah nodded her head. "Maybe...maybe you shouldn't take them anymore. You should throw them out and I'll see if Dr. Whale can prescribe something that won't affect you that way again."
Rebekah raised her brow and smiled in amusement. "Wow, Regina...be careful, I might think you're showing actual concern for me right now." She chuckled.
Regina rolled her eyes, but Rebekah could see the small smile trying so hard to break through. "Get some rest, Rebekah."
"Goodnight, Regina." Rebekah said, still chuckling. She waved goodbye to Henry as the car pulled away and walked into her building.
Rebekah had almost forgotten that she had invited Jefferson over, it wasn't until Regina had mention the pain pills that her mind went back to him. She hurried upstairs as quickly as she could with the current pain she was feeling and once she was inside her apartment, she waited for Jefferson to come.
Rebekah check her watch,
9:30 PM
Thirty more minutes and he'd be there.
She couldn't remember the last time she was this excited.
_________________________________
9:50 PM
"Goodnight Henry," Regina said softly as he closed his bedroom door. A knock on the door downstairs made Regina raise her brow. She hadn't told Graham to come over tonight – maybe he had come on his own? The thought made her smile wickedly.
Today had been absolute chaos for Regina.
But it made her realize something; she did truly love Henry. Before, she wasn't so sure, the boy had pushed her away from the time he was a baby and latched onto Rebekah. And Regina had despised her little sister for that. She had despised her for many reasons. But she also realized today that she needed Rebekah. Not just as some pawn – but as her little sister. Rebekah was her family and despite how awful Regina had treated her in Storybrooke, when Regina needed comfort; Rebekah was kind enough to show her it. And it left her with incredible guilt.
The pills she had given her from Dr. Whale had an ingredient that Regina knew would make Rebekah sick. But instead of correcting Whale when he listed off everything, Regina imagined a life where Rebekah was gone, and Henry would be forced to love her. A world where Rebekah didn't influence Emma to continue having a relationship with Henry, a world where the man who's heart she kept locked away in a vault didn't drop everything to help her little sister, acting as if she were more important to him than Regina was. A world where she didn't have to worry about her little sister re-falling in love with Jefferson again and somehow break the curse.
So, she took the pills and went to Rebekah's house and gave them to her.
When she had showed up to the site, Regina had been shocked but also relieved that her little sister was even standing in front of her. The reaction should have been bad enough that Rebekah would likely die, or at least fall into a coma. But she was there, right in front of her, and Regina realized that what she had done was wrong – that she still needed her sister. It was the reason why she told Rebekah to not take anymore of the pain medication.
She had figured that Rebekah hadn't taken the pills until Graham had mentioned that was the reason why she hadn't shown up earlier. Rebekah must have been lying to Graham – because if she had taken the pills...well, there was no way she'd wake up.
Regina walked over to the door and unlocked it, opening it while saying, "I wasn't expecting you tonight," Only to have a hand grip onto her neck tightly and choking her.
"You tried to kill her!" Jefferson seethed, his grip growing tighter. Regina struggled, her finger nails scratching at his hand. Stop, she managed to breathe out. Jefferson pushed her against the wall, hand still around her neck. "If you ever try and hurt her again, I will finish the job." He threatened.
When Jefferson let go of her neck, Regina gasped for air, hand going to her neck as she tried to catch her breath. "Do not threaten me!" Regina spat out, leaning against the wall for support.
"Don't try to kill my wife." Jefferson spat back.
"-How do you know I even," Regina stopped, realizing now what must have happened. She laughed bitterly and shook her head. "It seems that even here your love," she spat out the word, "-Is the only thing that can heal her."
"What are you talking about?" He glared.
"Agrabah. Rebekah cutting her foot and the sand getting in – the same chemical from the sand was in her pain medication. Do you know how I know that? Because I was the one who cast the spell on the sand. Do you think it was an accident that she cut her foot? Or that it was just coincidence that Rumpelstiltskin appeared in the water just when you needed him the most? You fool!"
Regina watched as his jaw tensed.
"I saw the whole thing, Jefferson – that's why I took her away from you years later. It's why I left you in Wonderland! I didn't want you two anywhere near each other because I planned on killing Rebekah to create the curse. But I was wrong; I had to take the heart of the person I loved most that loved me back too. And Rebekah stopped loving me long ago." She glared, standing up straight now, pushing off the wall. "Get out of my damn house before I call the sheriff and have him throw you into a cell!"
Jefferson didn't move. "One day she is going to remember who I am to her, who Grace is to her – she'll remember all of the awful thing you have done to her and put our family through and I cannot wait to watch her tear you apart."
Regina felt her temper flare when he turned his back on her and headed towards the front door, "Stay away from her, Jefferson!" She shouted.
But he ignored her, smirking at her over his shoulder as he shut the door behind him.
The relief and affection she felt for Rebekah earlier was now gone. Regina only felt rage. Because Jefferson was right. After what she had done to their happy little family...there was no way Rebekah wouldn't want vengeance.
She needed to come up with some kind of plan to stop that from happening.
Regina couldn't kill her...but she could make Rebekah believe that she had truly changed, that she wanted nothing more than a better relationship with her little sister – and if the curse were ever broken, Rebekah would believe that her sister had actually changed.
But over Regina's dead body was she going to let that damn curse be broken.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro