THE ENCHANTED FOREST

He was barely nineteen and had already made quite the name for himself. Jefferson had been portal jumping from land to land stealing from Queens and Kings, he had stolen from pirates and dragons, he had even stolen from a wizard. There was nothing Jefferson couldn't manage to get his hands on which was why the Dark One frequently called on him for favors.

The task was simple enough. Rumpelstiltskin wanted Jefferson to break into the castle that now belonged to Prince Charming. The Dark One wanted a specific gem stolen from the palace. He was generous in the amount of gold that he was willing to give Jefferson for the job and was even willing to ignore any debts Jefferson owed him. But even if there was no gold involved, no one ever says no to the Dark One when he calls on them for a favor with promises to forgive any debts they have with him. He was too powerful and Jefferson wanted to stay in his good graces.

He took the job and managed to sneak into the castle undetected by any guards. In fact, the castle was nearly empty with how few guards were on duty. It would seem as though His Royal Highness was not home which Jefferson had no problem with. He was good at stealing, he was good at running; what he was not good at was combat. So if the Prince were to be home and pulled out his sword – well, Jefferson was no match.

For nearly an hour, Jefferson searched the vault Rumpelstiltskin had told him about before he found the gem the Dark One had requested. He quickly pocketed the gem as well as a few other jewels that he would be able to sell later only to tense up when he felt something sharp pressed to his back.

He raised his hands and dropped the bag full of riches. "I surrender," Jefferson said in an arrogant tone.

The sharp object pressed harder into his back and caused Jefferson to wince. "Who are you?" The voice was female which surprised Jefferson. But it gave him hope that he would be able to get out of this situation easily. The thief spun around quickly thinking he would have the upper hand only to have the tip of a sword pointed right at his neck. He swallowed hard as he felt a small nick made by the sword. "I'll only ask you one more time," the woman said with a glare. "Who are you?"

She was small with a pale complexion while her hair was long and dark as night. He knew this woman. "Snow White." He smiled. "Prince Charming's wife-to-be." Jefferson smirked and looked down at the woman. "The name is Jefferson."

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "Did the Evil Queen send you to kill me?"

"No." He answered truthfully.

"How do I know you're not lying to me?"

He shrugged his shoulders and grinned. "You don't." Jefferson took a step back but Snow White followed after him with her sword still pricking at his throat. "But I am very fond of my head so there is no reason for me to lie to you and risk losing it."

"Who sent you?" Snow White demanded an answer.

"Rumpelstiltskin."

"Why?" Jefferson motioned down at the bag full of jewels that was now on the floor. Snow White looked back up at him and he watched as her brows furrowed. "He wanted you to steal the Royal Jewels? Why?"

"I don't ask for a reason when there's gold involved, Your Highness."

"How did you even get into the castle?"

Jefferson lifted his chin a bit and raised his hand to point at his top hat. "With this."

She dropped her sword and narrowed her eyes at Jefferson. "A hat?"

"A magic hat."

Snow White seemed intrigued by that. "And you're able to get into any castle undetected by using this hat?"

He nodded his head. "The hat takes me wherever my heart desires."

The woman raised her brow at his statement. She then crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at Jefferson. "I have a proposition for you."

He smirked down at her. "A proposition you say? Your Highness, you are betrothed – I would never defile a maid before her wedding."

She rolled her eyes at his words and made a face of disgust. "I am offering you the chance to keep the jewels that you have failed at trying to steal from the palace on one condition."

He chuckled in amusement. "Let's hear it," Jefferson said back to Snow White.

"The Evil Queen...she has a younger sister. Her name is Rebekah Mills."

He already knew about Rebekah Mills. He had seen both her and Snow White when they were only children after he had tricked Regina into believing that Victor Frankenstein could bring back her beloved from the dead. He had only seen the two girls briefly but Rebekah had been spinning around in circles while laughing loudly as Snow White watched her. The young girl had stopped spinning and wobbled a bit only to have her eyes land on Jefferson. Even from so far away he could see just how green her eyes had shined as she giggled before falling down on the castle floor.

"After the Queen sent a Huntsman to cut out my heart, Rebekah has been locked away and trapped in her room by magic."

Magic? His hat could take him many places but he couldn't break through any magic spell or curse.

"No one has been able to enter the room without dying unless Regina allowed them access. But our spies have told the Prince and I that no one has tried to enter Rebekah's room in months."

He pursed his lips and nodded his head at Snow White tapping his finger against his chin. "So – you would like me to risk my life to rescue the little princess?"

Snow White glared. "Rebekah is being held prisoner by her sister because she tried to warn my people of her sister's wickedness. The only ally that Rebekah ever had was her father and he is gone now."

Jefferson knew what it was like to feel alone.

"If you are able to free Rebekah from the room and bring her back here to stay under the protection of myself and the Prince...you may have your jewels," Snow White told him. "You have my word."

He laughed and shook his head. "Are you forgetting that I stole these jewels for Rumpelstiltskin? If I do not return to his palace by sundown with the jewels, I'm dead. So, my options are to die trying to free the Evil Queen's sister or die when Rumpelstiltskin finds me after not giving him what he asked me to steal."

"Yes."

Jefferson pursed his lips together again and let out a low whistle. "Doesn't sound like I'll be gaining anything from this situation."

"You will gain the jewels after you bring Rebekah here." He rolled his eyes at her answer only to feel the tip of her sword pointed at his neck again. "Or there's a third option where you refuse to do either and you lose that head you are so fond of."

He glared at her. "Fine."

"Do I have your word?"

Jefferson thought on it for a moment but held out his hand for Snow White to shake. "You have my word."

Snow White allowed him to leave with his head but Jefferson did not use his hat to sneak into the Evil Queen's castle. Instead, he traveled back to the Dark One's castle to bring him the information Snow White had given him.

Rumpelstiltskin had been intrigued by what Jefferson had told him and forgave the young man for not bringing back the jewels. Jefferson had been surprised by that – he had hoped Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't kill him and let him have another shot at trying to steal the jewels later but instead, the Dark One told the thief that he would help him rescue Rebekah from her sister's magic.

"However, you will not return Rebekah to Snow White and Prince Charming, dearie," Rumpelstiltskin told Jefferson after using magic on the hat to protect Jefferson.

"Where would you like me to take her?"

"To the Land Without Color." Rumpelstiltskin handed him the hat back. "I have a meeting with Dr. Frankenstein set in two days so when I come, I will collect Rebekah and bring her back to my palace to keep her as my prisoner."

"How do you expect me to get the jewels you want back from Snow White?"

"The jewels are no longer important to me, dear Jefferson." Rumpelstiltskin handed him a small vile and ordered him to drink it. "It'll help you cross any magical border."

He looked down at the vile before drinking it in one swift gulp. "You're sure it'll work?" Jefferson asked after he swallowed the liquid.

Rumpelstiltskin giggled and clapped his hands together. "Absolutely," he told Jefferson. "And after you do this...you'll have everything you've ever dreamed of having."

To be the richest man in the world? To live a life of luxury where he'd never have to become a fungus picker like his father had been? To create a real name for himself other than thief?

He was ready for that.

Jefferson took a step back and dropped the hat on the floor and kicked it into a spin. He looked to Rumpelstiltskin once last time before he jumped into the cloud of purple. The man was giggling and wiggling his fingers at him in a goodbye.

It was concerning but Jefferson was willing to ignore it and continue on with his job. He'd steal the princess from the castle and bring her to Rumpelstiltskin who was still willing to ignore any debt Jefferson owed him. He might be wanted by Snow White and Prince Charming as well as The Evil Queen, but he'd be long gone before anyone even found out Rebekah was gone.

Jefferson caught his hat in his hand after landing on his feet from the jump. He looked up to see a beautiful young woman sitting on her bed a few feet away from him and listened as she inhaled sharply upon seeing him.

He watched her green eyes widen and knew that he was in the right place.

Rebekah Mills, older than he had last seen her, grabbed a knife that was hidden under her pillow. She jumped off the bed, keeping the bed between them as an obstacle.

He grinned at the way her face pinched together while she pointed her knife at him. "Who the hell are you?"

Jefferson raised his hands to let Rebekah know that he meant her no harm. "My name is Jefferson and I'm here to rescue you."

_________________________________

THE ENCHANTED FOREST

-THREE YEARS LATER-

Rebekah looked at herself in the mirror after Snow White had placed the crown of flowers on the top of her head. She smiled softly at the beautiful way her oldest friend had styled her hair for the event.

"What do you think?" Snow asked as she moved to rest her chin on Rebekah's shoulder while smiling at her in the mirror.

Rebekah was thrilled that she was finally marrying Jefferson in a few hours but...the thought of walking down the aisle without her father by her side to give her away only left Rebekah feeling sadness. "It's beautiful, Snow," she answered in a whisper as she looked away from her reflection.

Henry Mills was trapped in Wonderland by Cora and Rebekah knew how dangerous it would be for her or Jefferson to try and rescue him. Perhaps she would have done something so reckless before having Grace but Rebekah and Jefferson had both agreed to hang up the hat for the sake of Grace's safety. They couldn't risk getting captured or found by Regina and leaving Grace without her parents. And as much as Rebekah would have loved to have her father with her on her wedding day, Grace's safety was more important.

Snow White seemed to have picked up on that sadness and when Rebekah caught her looking down at her sadly, the bride-to-be quickly got up from her chair to put on her wedding dress. But Snow White followed after her and asked the question Rebekah was dreading answering out loud. "What's wrong, Rebekah?"

"It's nothing," Rebekah lied.

A movement against her collarbone brought Rebekah's attention back to the pendant at her neck. Her fingers trailed along the thin cable chain until her fingers brushed against the smooth stone centerpiece in a meditative way that could easily occupy her mind in distraction. It seemed to always bring a sense of calm over her when she touched it. The necklace had been a gift to her from Jefferson, something he had stolen years prior that she had refused to accept at first but it was so captivating that she finally accepted his gift after the fifth time he had presented it to her.

Frowning down at the pendant between her fingers, the stone was the first to catch her eye. The blues and blacks were flecked in dots scattered over the surface. The brightest of blues was cerulean much alike the striations of blue in Jefferson's eyes. It almost looked as if it was drawing her in in a hypnotic way. Cerulean flecks melted into a deeper ocean blue, and finally into a blue so dark it was almost black. It was mysterious. But it left her calm as always. The oval stone was set in an ornate filigree setting which was suspended over a larger golden teardrop with more intricate twists of the delicate, gold wire. The filigree was also flecked with gold which made the entire piece a perfection fit for a princess.

Her dear friend pulled her away from her thoughts when she started to speak again. "You were always a terrible liar, Rebekah," Snow White said sweetly as she pushed Rebekah's hair over her shoulder. "Are you having second thoughts?"

Rebekah spun around to face Snow White upon hearing her question. "Absolutely not!" she said in a fierce tone. "I love Jefferson and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with him!"

Snow White moved to stand in front of Rebekah and frowned sadly at her. "Then why do you look so sad?" Her eyes drifted away from Snow White and over to the dress that was laid across hers and Jefferson's bed. "I understand if you aren't able to let go of his past," Snow White said causing Rebekah to look back up at her in confusion. "But for a time, I was also a thief. Sometimes it's the only way for a person to survive. And though I still hold a little grudge against Jefferson for not bringing you to me like he swore he would, I know how much you love him and that if he had brought you to me we wouldn't be standing here today for your wedding."

Rebekah couldn't help but chuckle. "How come you didn't tell me about Jefferson when I came to you and begged you to help me save him from Rumpelstiltskin?"

She smiled. "Because even though you denied it, I could see it in your eyes just how in love with him you were. And, it might have been a test to see if Jefferson would be truthful to you by confessing it himself. And that if he did, I'd know that your love for him was not misguided."

Rebekah's fingers moved back to caress the stone. "He gave me this necklace after confessing to me that he made a deal with you to rescue me. I was so angry with him for keeping yet another secret from me that I refused the gift four times before I finally forgave him and took the necklace."

"It is a very lovely necklace," Snow White said as she looked at the stone. "But I, personally, would have made David grovel just a little bit more before accepting an apology gift from him." She joked causing Rebekah to laugh. When Rebekah looked back to Snow White she could see the concern in her eyes. "Why are you so sad, Rebekah?" she asked again.

Rebekah took in a deep breath before answering Snow White. "I suppose I wish that my father were here to walk me down the aisle."

"Oh," Snow White said sadly. "Believe me, Rebekah. I understand."

"Which dwarf was it that walked you down the aisle in place of your father?"

Snow White chuckled now. "Grumpy."

Rebekah smiled fondly at Snow White. "That was kind of him."

She shrugged her shoulders. "He's not that big of a grouch; his name doesn't really suit him." Snow White walked over to where Rebekah's dress lay and picked it up. "Your father may not be here to walk you down the aisle, Rebekah...but you are not alone. Every person here today loves you so very much and I know how badly you must miss your father but...it doesn't matter who walks you down the aisle because at the other end is the man you love and that is all that matters. It doesn't matter who gets you there – just that you get there."

Rebekah nodded her head in agreement and smiled at Snow. "You're right."

"I always am," she said in a sing song tune causing Rebekah to laugh. "Now...let's get you dressed. Your husband-to-be is waiting for you."

Soon Rebekah would be marrying the man of her dreams, the love of her life, her very best friend and their daughter would be there to witness the occasion. Grace was still very young and probably would not remember it but it was important to both Jefferson and Rebekah that they waited until Grace was born before they got married. Nearly two years had gone by and they had yet to wed but now it was finally happening.

"Rebekah?"

She looked over her shoulder to see David standing in her doorway. Snow White had left minutes earlier to tell Jefferson that the wedding would be beginning soon and to also get Grace dressed for the event. Rebekah smiled upon seeing her dearest friend's husband. "Is it time?"

He shook his head. "Not yet." He smiled and walked over to her. David took in her dress and then looked back to Rebekah. "You look like an angel."

She smiled softly to David and curtsied. "Thank you, Charming."

David chuckled and stood in front of her. "I..." He stopped himself from continuing on causing Rebekah to kink her brow up at him. He inhaled deeply before looking back at Rebekah. "I overheard you and Snow speaking earlier about how...you wished that your father was here to walk you down the aisle."

Rebekah frowned but quickly replaced it with a forced smiled. "It's okay, David. I'm fine. I promise." She smiled genuinely. "It doesn't matter who walks me down the aisle, all that matters is the person waiting for me at the other end."

"That may be so," David said while nodding his head. "But...if you'll allow me, it would be my honor to walk you down the aisle, Rebekah." Rebekah's eyes widened in surprise. "I know that I am not your father but you are so dear to me and Snow that I think of your as a sister."

Rebekah smiled at David as tears of happiness filled her eyes. "You would do that for me?"

"Only if you'll allow me."

Rebekah laughed and moved forward to hug him. "Of course, David. Thank you," she whispered. He hugged her back while chuckling and Rebekah pulled away from him. "It's settled. You will walk me down the aisle."

David grinned just as Snow White popped her head into the room while holding Grace in her arms. "It's time."

Rebekah bit down on her lip while smiling. David turned to look at her and held out his arm for her to grab. "Are you ready?"

"Absolutely."

_________________________________

He wasn't nervous. Jefferson was just...ready. He wanted nothing more than to have Rebekah Mills become his wife and to proudly be called her husband. There were times when Jefferson couldn't believe that three years ago he had thought of Rebekah as 'just a job' – a way to pay any debt he owed Rumpelstiltskin. But she had become so much more than he could have ever possibly imagined.

'And after you do this...you'll have everything you've ever dreamed of having,' Rumpelstiltskin had said to Jefferson before he jumped through the portal that would take him to her bedroom. Jefferson had thought the Dark One meant gold or being known around all the realms but what he got was better than having all the gold in all the realms.

He found the love of his life and together they had created the most beautiful little girl in the whole world. Jefferson had a real family that he never wanted to let go of. Rebekah and Grace were the two most important things in Jefferson's life and he knew that he would do absolutely anything to give them the happiness they both deserved. Jefferson chuckled as he watched Snow White help his little Grace walk down the aisle while dropping flower petals on the ground. His daughter smiled brightly up at him upon seeing Jefferson standing at the end of the aisle waiting for them. Jefferson watched as Grace moved her little hand up and waved to him before Snow White picked her up and sat her down on her lap while they waited for Rebekah to appear.

Jefferson inhaled sharply when Rebekah was finally in his view. He smiled at the sight of his bride-to-be walking down the aisle with Charming. Jefferson had known just how badly Rebekah had wanted her father to be at their wedding but they both knew how dangerous it would be to try and rescue him from Cora. Jefferson had thought about seeing if Snow White might be able to get word to the Huntsman about the wedding since he knew how much Rebekah had cared for the man. But he also knew that Regina had control over his heart and he would not risk Regina finding out where they were hidden away; and more importantly, he would not risk Rebekah's life. But Rebekah was not walking down the aisle by herself and Jefferson was very grateful for Snow White and Prince Charming. Even if they still held a slight grudge against Jefferson from when Snow White had first met him.

The choice he made to run with Rebekah was one he would never regret. Jefferson's life had only begun the moment Rebekah had taken his hand and jumped into his hat with him. Through every battle they had to fight or mistakes they had made, through all the arguments and make-ups, Jefferson never once doubted that he had made the right choice by keeping Rebekah and not handing her over to Rumpelstiltskin.

And as he watched Rebekah walking toward him, Jefferson couldn't help but become overwhelmed with just how much he loved the woman in front of him. His eyes blurred with tears as Charming finally brought Rebekah to him and hugged her tightly before she moved to stand in front of Jefferson, her green eyes bright and filled with tears of happiness as well. He let out a little huff of a laugh when he saw that she was wearing the necklace he had given to her after telling her about the deal he had broken with Snow White and Charming. Rebekah chuckled too as she looked up at him and took his hands in hers.

"Eh-hem." Both Rebekah and Jefferson looked to their side and saw that Victor Frankenstein was standing in front of them now.

"How?" Rebekah said with a little chuckle and looked to Jefferson for an explanation.

He hadn't used the hat to bring Victor to the Enchanted Forest; they had both decided that jumping from realm to realm was too dangerous and not worth the risk any longer. But they had both wanted Victor with them on their special day.

"I had some magical assistance," Victor said with a smirk as he jerked his head in the direction of the blue fairy. "You two didn't think I'd actually miss your wedding, did you?"

Victor started the ceremony. "Now I'm not sure if any of you know just how much these two love each other but I have luckily seen it firsthand." Jefferson looked back to Rebekah who looked away from Victor at the same time to look at Jefferson. "When I first met Jefferson, he was...a bit of a scoundrel, there's no getting around that." Jefferson playfully rolled his eyes as Rebekah laughed at Victor's words. "He was a thief, he was obnoxious and really only seemed to care about himself."

"Okay, okay." Jefferson laughed as he looked to Victor. "I think you've painted a clear enough picture."

Rebekah squeezed his hands causing Jefferson to look back at her.

"When Jefferson first brought Rebekah to my realm, I made a joke saying that I assumed she was his wife since no one else would willingly go anywhere with Jefferson unless they were his hostage." Rebekah grinned up at Jefferson as Victor continued. "But Rebekah made it very clear that she was not his wife. How many times did you say no, Rebekah?" Victor teased.

"Eight?" She estimated and Victor nodded his head in agreement.

"You also said that you would never marry Jefferson."

Their friends began to laugh at that.

"I changed my mind," Rebekah said to everyone before looking back to Jefferson. He felt his breath catch in his throat again at just how brightly her eyes seemed to be twinkling in that moment.

Victor continued on. "I am not surprised that these two fell in love," he admitted. "Because I watched it happen with my own eyes. Slowly, hesitantly, and then completely. I can't think of any two people who fit together as well as Rebekah and Jefferson. And it is my honor to stand before you all and be a part of this union." Victor looked to Jefferson and motioned for him to take out Rebekah's ring.

Rebekah loved the ring so much that she had told Jefferson that it was all she needed. Rebekah didn't want any other ring except for the one he had given her when he had asked her to marry him. When she gave it back to him the day before, she had pulled him into a kiss and whispered to him; 'Don't go running off with that. I expect to have this back on my finger by the end of tomorrow.'

Jefferson pulled the ring out of his pocket and gently lifted Rebekah's left hand and recited the words he had chosen as his vow to Rebekah. "When I was a child I was told a story about how once upon a time, men and women were once whole. But the Gods separated the men and women after fearing just how strong they were together. After they were separated, these men and women would search the world for the lives that had been taken from them – the halves that they had lost. Rebekah Mills, you are my other half. So let the Gods be afraid because I swear to you, no one will ever keep us apart." He slid the ring onto her finger. "I love you with all that I am and I can't imagine not spending the rest of my life with you."

Rebekah smiled at Jefferson as she gave into a little sniffle and wiped under her eyes at the tears that had fallen. He smiled and moved his thumb to her cheek to catch a tear she hadn't wiped away. "Lucky for you, you don't have to imagine a life without me, Jefferson, because even if we are ever separated," her voice had become a whisper as she took his hands in hers again, "my heart is yours and it'll recognize you and love you no matter what." She promised him. After pulling out a silver ring, Rebekah took Jefferson's hand and slid it on his finger. "You saved me, Jefferson. Not just by rescuing me from being my sister's prisoner. You saved my soul. You showed me what it was like to truly be loved and to love someone in return. I love you without fear, and without hesitation any longer, and I promise to always support you, encourage you, and cherish you for everything you are. I love you, Jefferson. You are my dream."

Jefferson moved forward and pressed his hand to her cheek and pulled her into a kiss causing their friends to laugh.

"You were supposed to wait for my cue," Victor said after clearing his throat loudly to try and get the two to pull away from each other. Rebekah was smiling against his lips and her hand moved to rest on his cheek before she pulled away from him with her cheeks a shade of crimson now. "Now, as I was trying to get to before I was so rudely interrupted," Victor said but Jefferson only kept his eyes on Rebekah and she only looked at him with those twinkling green eyes. "Jefferson, do you take Rebekah as your wife?"

"Absolutely."

Victor chuckled and then asked Rebekah, "And Rebekah, do you take Jefferson as your husband?"

"Nothing would make me happier."

"Good. Because I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kis-"

Jefferson didn't wait for Victor to finish. He looped his arm around Rebekah's waist and pulled her against his chest and kissed her deeply. He vaguely heard the sound of people cheering in the background but it wasn't until he felt something at his leg that he finally pulled away from Rebekah. They both looked down to see Grace reaching her hands up for them to hold her. Rebekah had laughed and swooped Grace up in her arms and together they simultaneously pressed kisses to their daughter's cheek causing her to squeal with laughter.

"I love you so much, Jefferson," Rebekah whispered as she gazed up at him.

He pressed another kiss to her lips causing Grace to giggle and then moved his forehead to rest against his bride's. "I love you, Rebekah," Jefferson whispered back to her.

Rumpelstiltskin had been right. Jefferson had gotten everything he could ever dream of by taking the job he had been tasked with to rescue Rebekah.

She was his dream. Their family was his dream. He felt whole and loved and felt as though nothing could ever tear them apart.

God help whoever was stupid enough to try.

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

Jefferson watched as Rebekah slept peacefully next to him in her bed. He had kept his promise and came by the day after the election and Rebekah had sighed happily when she opened the door and saw that he was the one who was standing on the other side.

"I thought you might not come," she admitted to him once he was inside her apartment. He didn't say anything. He only closed the space between them and showed her just how much he wanted to be here with her.

Jefferson's fingers played mindlessly with Rebekah's hair and listened to her breathing in and out and relished in the feeling of her skin against his.

There were times Jefferson wanted so badly to tell Rebekah that he loved her – that he always had and always would. But whenever he'd say something that referenced their past life together Rebekah would look at him in confusion and Jefferson would have to awkwardly find his way out of whatever he had just said. But he wanted to tell her he loved her. Jefferson wanted to hear her tell him that she loved him. He wanted his family back, he wanted Rebekah as his wife again, and for her to know that he was her husband. But after twenty-eight years with Rebekah not even knowing he existed...he was grateful for the time he was spending with her now. A part of him wished he had worked up the courage on that first day twenty-eight years ago and they could have been together the whole time but he had believed Regina's threats and hid himself away to protect both Rebekah and Grace.

But now he felt selfish and wanted more than he could have. He wanted his family. Jefferson wanted to go back to the day they got married where they had danced with their daughter and chased her around the fields after everyone had gone home. Jefferson wished he could go back to the day Regina had found them and fought for Rebekah and did not let the evil woman take Grace's mother from her. But it had been Rebekah's choice.

"Leave now with me or watch your family die."

He had been angry at her the first few months, lost without her as the years passed and Grace grew up without her mother. Those years that Rebekah had been locked away were the worst of his life. But he had Grace to keep him going.

He missed his Grace so much.

"Papa," Grace had whispered one night as he read her a bedtime story. "Will Mama ever come back to us?" she asked and Jefferson felt his heart shatter because he didn't know the answer to that question. He didn't even know if Rebekah was alive.

But he knew what his daughter needed to hear in that moment. "Yes," he told her. "Your Mama will come home to us. But know that even if she is gone right now...she loves you so very much, Grace. And I know that not a day goes by where she doesn't think of you and keeps you close in her heart."

"Why did the Evil Queen have to take Mama?"

He had swallowed hard. Rebekah hadn't wanted Grace to ever know who Regina truly was to their family. The day they had gotten married, Rebekah told Jefferson that he and Grace were the only family she had now. She told him that Regina was no longer her sister and the only family she would ever need was him and their daughter. Jefferson had known that Rebekah still missed her father dearly so he had told her that Henry Mills Sr. was a part of their little family, too.

Grace had the right to know why Regina had taken Rebekah. It had been nearly two years since Rebekah was taken from them and every day he watched the way Grace would sit at the window looking out into the forest where their little cottage resided just waiting for her mother to come back home to them and it broke his heart each time. When they ran from their family home after Rebekah was taken, Grace had cried every night for two weeks asking for her mother, begging for her to return to them. She had told Jefferson that she wouldn't be able to find them in the little cottage and that they needed to go back to their home. But Jefferson knew they could never go back.

He had sighed and put the book down next to Grace. "Your Mama was once very important to the Evil Queen."

"Why?"

Jefferson had hesitated telling her the truth, but in the end, confessed to Grace why Regina had taken her mother. "Because your Mama is the Evil Queen's little sister. And a long time ago your Mama and I escaped her castle and the Evil Queen has been searching for her ever since to bring her back home."

Grace had frowned as she looked up at Jefferson. "I just want my Mama back."

Jefferson closed his eyes as he tried to block out the memories of Grace crying for her mother. Rebekah seemed to have sensed his distress and stirred away and mumbled his name sleepily. "Jefferson?"

He moved his hand up and down her back. "Go back to sleep, Bex," Jefferson whispered and pressed a kiss to her head. She hummed a little and pressed a kiss to his chest before she fell back to sleep, holding him a little tighter than she had before. When he knew that she was back to sleep he pressed another kiss to her head and whispered softly, "I love you so much, Rebekah."

She hummed happily in her sleep and Jefferson felt tears fill his eyes.

Jefferson realized that he would do anything to make Rebekah remember. That's what scared him.

The madness he had suffered in Wonderland hadn't fully gone away over time.

Only now he called it something else: Desperation.