STORYBROOKE, Maine

Rebekah really did not want to go to this 'Welcome Home/We're Glad You Didn't Kill Kathryn' party Emma and Henry had put together for Mary-Margaret and yet there she was. Standing alone in the corner of Mary-Margaret and Emma's apartment. The last twenty-four hours had Rebekah wanting to curl up in bed for the rest of her life, only leaving her home when absolutely necessary. Jefferson hadn't returned home. And it wasn't like Rebekah could go to Emma and file a missing person's report because Jefferson had escaped from the mental institution; and if Emma found him, he'd likely be sent back. And that wasn't what Rebekah wanted. She didn't want Jefferson back in that awful place, drugged so badly that he thought they were married and that Regina was the Evil Queen from some fairytale. Though...it was odd that Jefferson's hallucinations were the same thing Henry still actively believed in.

Fairytales weren't real. There was no such thing as happy endings unless you paid for them. And there was no such thing as True Love.

Rebekah could feel bitterness burning inside her, her heart turning black after Jefferson had left her. Maybe he had been lying -- maybe Regina had been telling the truth. Maybe he was just a jerk who liked screwing with the Mills sisters. She didn't know. But Rebekah was done wearing her heart on her sleeve. No wonder she wasn't able to tell Jefferson that she loved him. Ha! She thought, You would have looked like an even bigger fool. The voice in her head sounded oddly like Regina's voice and not like Rebekah's. Maybe that's what bitterness did to a person; turn ed them into someone with no heart. And Regina did not have a heart; Rebekah was sure of it. She may have fooled Rebekah into thinking she was a caring sister for a while, but now she saw through that.

Rebekah was tired of being a mockery to everyone. She loved too quickly, forgave too easily, and recklessly didn't listen to all the warning signs going off in her head. She followed her heart blindly and look where that left her--knocked up, bitter, and alone while her friends celebrated the fact that Mary-Margaret wasn't a murderer after all.

Emma kept watching her most of the night but never said anything to her. The same went for Mary-Margaret. For two women who claimed to be Rebekah's best friends, they sure weren't acting like it. In fact, when Rebekah showed up with Henry, Emma looked downright upset that Rebekah had even come.

Ruby spoke to her briefly but after Rebekah snapped at the young woman for bringing up Jefferson, Ruby left Rebekah to be by herself.

She had isolated herself more than Leroy, the town drunk, ever had at this point.

Rebekah watched from across the room as Henry gave Mary-Margaret her welcome home gift and a card from his classroom saying how glad they were that she hadn't killed Mrs. Nolan causing the room to awkwardly chuckle. Emma mentioned to Henry that they needed to get him home before Regina found out where he was and the little boy quickly ran over to where Rebekah stood, wrapping his arms around her in a hug.

She tried hard not to let her emotions get the best of her when she was hugging him back, sniffling a little to try and fight back the tears. Henry pulled away, a sad look on his face as he tilted his head to look at his aunt. "Are you okay?"

Rebekah nodded her head and forced a smile. "Just tired. My feet are killing me." She lied, not wanting to upset the boy.

"You should go sit in my seat next to August. He says he hasn't met you yet," Henry suggested before running over to Emma so they could leave. She looked over at the table Henry had been sitting at and saw the man, August, watching her. Rebekah sighed, knowing Henry must have said something to him and made her way over to the table, taking Henry's vacant seat.

"You're the Mayor's sister, correct?" August asked once Rebekah sat down.

That question alone was almost enough for Rebekah to get back up and find somewhere else to sit. But her back ached and the thought of walking over to the only other open spot made Rebekah feel very tired.

"Nope," Rebekah answered. "Regina's my sister." It was annoying always being referred to as 'the Mayor's sister ' her identity always linked with Reginas. She decided to take it back. Even if it was saying something as childish as that.

August chuckled at her dry tone and nodded his head. "Okay." He drew out the word before sliding his drink to Rebekah. "Don't worry -- it's not spiked," he said in a whisper. "Just normal hot cocoa."

Rebekah raised her brow in amusement. "Who says I don't want it spiked?" she questioned him.

"Your pregnant belly says you don't want it spiked." He pointed down at her growing stomach. "I mean, unless you're just fat."

Rebekah's eyes widened as her mouth hung open in amused shock. "You are rude !" She laughed for the first time since Jefferson had left.

"Rude, charming -- some say it's the same thing." He smiled at Rebekah as she playfully narrowed her eyes at him before picking up the cup of hot cocoa and taking a drink of it.

August watched her carefully and when Rebekah swallowed the warm drink, she handed him back his cup with raised brows. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that it's rude to stare?" she asked.

He chuckled. "I must have missed that lesson in etiquette class," August said back. "And I see you missed the class where they taught people to thank someone after being offered a drink."

Rebekah rolled her eyes and laughed. In a small way, August reminded Rebekah of Graham. And it was nice to be in the company of someone who didn't put up with her bullshit. "I was actually in attendance; my teacher just taught me not to thank someone for a drink after they called me fat ." She smirked.

August laughed loudly, gaining the room's attention. Rebekah noticed Mr. Gold staring at the two of them, eyes narrowed in disapproval. She paid no mind to it though; only swiped the drink from August and drank more of it.

When the party started to die down and Rebekah went to fetch her coat, Emma was there waiting for her, holding onto her winter jacket and purse. Rebekah's brow quirked up. "Have you been waiting here all night for me to leave or do you have uncanny timing?"

Emma closed her eyes and sighed when Rebekah took her belongings. "Bex, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"Ms. Swan." Mr. Gold interrupted their conversation. "You are a gracious host." He moved to stand by Rebekah and the pregnant woman watched in confusion as the atmosphere tensed and Emma squared her jaw in annoyance. Mr. Gold then turned his attention to Rebekah. "Will you be needing a ride home, Rebekah?" He asked. "Honestly, I'm a bit surprised that you're up on your feet after being put on strict bed rest by Dr. Porter."

Rebekah rolled her eyes as she put on her coat, digging through the pocket to pull out her car keys. "My blood pressure is back to normal. Dr. Porter gave me the okay to come tonight." She watched as relief swept over Emma's face but before she could say anything else, Rebekah continued answering Mr. Gold's previous question. "And I drove myself so thanks but no thanks on the ride offer," she told him. Rebekah mumbled; "Great party," as she moved past Emma and Mr. Gold.

"Bex, wait," Emma started to say but Rebekah was too tired to hear Emma's explanation as to why she had blatantly went out of her way to ignore her. She was twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight. If Emma didn't want to be friends with her anymore, fine. Rebekah had enough to worry about. Her unborn child, for starters, who was currently demanding Rebekah go to the ice cream parlor and taste test each flavor until closing.

The cold winter air caused Rebekah to hiss as she left Emma and Mary-Margaret's apartment building. Her gloved hands moved to wrap the scarf she wore around her neck tighter. In a split second, Rebekah went from wanting to wrap the scarf around her neck for warmth, to wanting to throw it on the ground and stomp on it over and over again.Jefferson wore scarfs. It was his way of hiding his scar and Rebekah had loved those scarfs. But what she loved most was unwrapping the scarf and pressing her lips to his scar in a featherlight kiss. Rebekah had loved the way his pulse would quicken and his breathing would hitch. She loved him.

Before she could stop herself, Rebekah ripped off the scarf and did just what she had thought about doing earlier. She threw the article of clothing on the ground and began to stomp angrily on the scarf over and over again.

It was childish. Rebekah was well aware of that. But she was hurt and despite the fact that Jefferson had yet again screwed her over. She still missed him and wanted to be with him. And she hated herself for that.

"Wow." The sound of someone clearing their throat caused Rebekah to stop her tantrum and look over her shoulder. August. "Whoever's face you're picturing right now must have really pissed you off -- that or you just really hate scarves."

Rebekah narrowed her eyes at him in a glare while bending down to pick up the scarf. She didn't say anything else; she just went on her way to her car. But August didn't let her get too far.

"You live near here?" He asked, falling into step with her. Rebekah looked over at him and made a face, shocked that he was being so bold. His already big eyes widened and then he laughed. "I didn't mean it like that. I don't pick up pregnant women." He teased but Rebekah didn't smile. "Tough crowd." He chuckled.

"What do you want?" Rebekah snapped at him in annoyance once they were to her car.

August smiled. "I'm just curious." He shrugged.

Rebekah sighed in irritation. "Curious about what?"

August leaned against her car, stopping Rebekah from being able to open the door. "I'm just curious as to why, while at a party to celebrate the return and proven innocence of one of your best friends, you are more glum than I'm sure Mary-Margaret was while in jail."

"I don't know, August -- maybe because I was being treated like the town pariah and my friends could barely handle maintaining eye contact with me?" Rebekah made a show out of shrugging her shoulders dramatically. "I don't even know why I bothered to come. I should have just stayed home. We all know Mary-Margaret was arrested because of something my sister did," she rambled on.

Rebekah knew better than anyone that Regina hated Mary-Margaret and that she was the only person powerful enough to have someone alter the results of whose heart was in Mary-Margaret's jewelry box. Well, her and Mr. Gold. But Rebekah didn't believe he had anything to do with it. He was kind enough to offer up his lawyer services when no one else wanted to touch Mary-Margaret's case with a ten foot pole. Why would he do all of that if he was the one setting her up? No. This had Regina written all over it.

August blinked, surprised by Rebekah's statement. "You think she's the one who set Mary-Margaret up."

"Regina is always the one pulling the strings when it comes to destroying someone's happiness." Rebekah said, and apparently August found that very humorous given the way he was biting down on his lower lip with his eyes closed while trying not to smile at her words. "What?"

He smiled and shook his head. "It's just a clever choice of words to describe your sister." he chuckled.

Rebekah didn't press him for any information because she was cold and tired and still really wanted ice cream. She decided that instead of going to the ice cream parlor that she would simply hit up the grocery store and buy a quart of whatever ice cream looked the most appetizing. "Can you move?" She asked him, motioning for him to get out of the way of her door.

August nodded his head with a smile and stepped out of her way. "Have a goodnight, Rebekah," he told her as she got into her car. "And don't go beating up too many scarves on your way home."

Rebekah shut the door without replying.

There was only one scarf Rebekah wanted to stomp on right now and she was pretty sure that if she saw the scarf owner -- she'd stupidly forgive him for everything again without even asking him for an explanation.

Rebekah went to the store, bought her ice cream and drove back home. She didn't sleep that night. Again, she stayed up waiting for a knock on the door that wouldn't come. And at midnight, she received a text from her nephew.

You are sixteen weeks pregnant, Auntie Bex. That means the baby is the size of an avocado.

Rebekah smiled, moving her hand to rest on her stomach as Henry sent a picture of an avocado to her. If there was one person in the world who could make Rebekah smile in the state she was in now, it was Henry.

She texted him back a picture of the half eaten container of ice cream she was eating and asked him if he wanted to go to her doctor appointment which happened to be in a couple of hours. Henry quickly replied his answer: YES!!!!

But then he texted her something that surprised her. Something she hadn't expected.

Paige says she misses you. Do you think we can bring her too?

Rebekah was overcome with emotions and quickly replied to Henry that Paige was always welcome to hang out with them. She knew it was late, but Rebekah went ahead and texted the Grace family and extended the invitation for Paige to her doctor's appointment and perhaps have lunch afterwards. It was a Saturday so she wouldn't have to worry about rushing to get Henry and Paige back to school.

Mrs. Grace replied to Rebekah, Too funny. Paige was just mentioning to us how much she missed you. Of course she can come. Do you need us to drop her off?

Rebekah smiled, her sour mood now gone. I can pick her up. Sorry for texting this late.

It's no problem, Mrs. Grace replied. We'll see you in the morning.

Rebekah felt a warmness in her belly, a flutter; something familiar. She smiled as she pressed her hand to her stomach. "Is that you?" She asked softly, letting her fingers skim over her belly. The flutter happened again after she spoke and Rebekah gave into a giggle. "Well hi there, my little avocado." She whispered, tracing little patterns over the spot she had felt the flutter. How she knew that her baby was kicking in that moment was a mystery to Rebekah. But she did.

And the bitterness that had formed around her heart started to thaw and she felt nothing but love for her unborn child that outweighed any sadness. Rebekah grinned before she began to hum softly to her child until she fell asleep.

Rest your head close to my heart,

Never to part, baby of mine...

_________________________________

Jefferson had been watching Rebekah. It was the first time she left the house since he left her. And God, was it hard seeing her without being able to be near her again.

"I asked you to look over her -- not hit on her," Jefferson said with a glare as Storybrooke's newest resident opened his hotel room door.

August chuckled and shook his head. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" he asked as he rubbed at his eyes.

Jefferson didn't reply, he only pushed past the man and walked into his bedroom. " You came to me with your rambling about making Emma believe the curse was real." His memory was getting better. Before he had just thought he was hallucinating the interaction. But after he saw August in town while he was watching Grace, he knew that it hadn't been a hallucination. "Now I'm in a situation I can't fix."

August shut the door behind him. "I told you to make Emma believe in the curse, not kidnap your wife's two best friends."

He ignored his words. "I don't want you flirting with my wife," Jefferson told August. "I still don't know who is pulling your strings, puppet-man, but I've been screwed over enough in my life that if you cross me or Rebekah I will..."

"Kidnap me too?" August smirked. Jefferson glared, not finding it humorous. The man chuckled and held up his hands in innocence. "Your wife made a strings comment too, tonight," he said after a moment and Jefferson turned his head sharply to look at the man. "Of course, she was talking about Regina and how she controls everything that goes on in this town, but it's cute that you two use the same phrases."

Jefferson closed his eyes, a fire burning in his chest from his need to be with Rebekah. "How is she?"

"Moody." August smirked. "But I hear that's a common thing among pregnant women." He shrugged his shoulder innocently.

"Did she..." He trailed off.

"Mention you?" August finished his question. "No. But as I'm sure you already saw, she sure did do some damage to that scarf of hers. It's almost as if it were the scarf that abandoned her and not you."

Jefferson squared his jaw. "You think I want to be away from her?" he questioned August. "I don't. I spent twenty eight years here without her and not to mention the time I spent without her in the Enchanted Forest."

"So go be with her," August told Jefferson who scoffed at that.

"You know what will happen if I do that."

August huffed out a laugh. "You're cocky," he remarked. "Do you really think Rebekah would tell you she loves you after everything you've put her through?"

His eyes narrowed at August. "Her heart knows mine," Jefferson told him. "And despite everything, I know that she loves me. And I won't risk her or my child's life by being around her and running the risk of her telling me she loves me."

August sighed loudly and went to sit on his bed. "Who's to say Regina was even telling you the truth?" he asked. "You've been fooled by her before."

Jefferson swallowed hard. He didn't need to be reminded of his foolishness. "I'm not risking my wife's life," he said in a stern tone. "I'd rather her hate me than lose her forever," he said with a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair. "What is your plan with Emma?"

"Get her to remember," August said with a simple shrug. "It might be harder now that Rumpelstiltskin is on my trail but...I think I have a way of dealing with that, too."

Jefferson raised his brows at August. "Gold is suspicious of you?"

August chuckled. "The man is suspicious of his shadow. You and I know that he only wants one thing in the world."

Jefferson narrowed his eyes. "Are you telling me that you're going to pretend to be his son?"

August nodded. "You had the hat. Why didn't you ever take him to this realm?"

He rolled his eyes in irritation. "That hat wouldn't work in this realm. There's no magic here, as I'm sure you're aware, Woody."

August glared at Jefferson's remark. "I can really see why Rebekah would be in love with you in this realm." He sneered. "Super loveable."

Jefferson repressed his need to laugh and simply shook his head while smirking. "Do your job so I can get my wife back," he said, his shoulder shoving into August's as he walked past him. "And quit flirting with her."

Jefferson heard August laugh while getting into his car to drive out of town and into the woods where he could go back to watching Rebekah. The sun was starting to rise and the cold air in Storybrooke was harsh on his skin. Jefferson thought back to earlier that evening when he watched Rebekah stomp all over her scarf in anger. Anger directed at him.

She'll understand soon enough, he told himself as he drove into the woods that would lead him to her house. Jefferson would park far enough away in the woods so that Rebekah would not spot the car, but close enough that he'd be able to see the lights in the house turn on and off when she was wandering around their home. Jefferson sighed as he looked down at the clock in his car . 4:56 AM. When he had left, her lights had been out for at least three hours but now it was on again. She wasn't getting enough sleep and it was his fault. He should be there with her; he should be holding her every night and taking care of her.

When Rebekah was pregnant with Grace, he had gone back to the Enchanted Forest and missed the early days of her pregnancy after they found out she was with child. He had wanted so desperately to provide a home for her in a land that she was comfortable in but he spent weeks dodging Regina's dark knights and missed far too much time with Rebekah. During her second pregnancy, Rebekah was detached; she knew something was wrong and Jefferson should have listened to her. When they lost that baby it had devastated them both. But they survived it. And now with her third pregnancy...he was missing it all again.

This wasn't fair.

He just wanted to be with her.

He wanted his family back.

If August couldn't get Emma to break the curse soon...Jefferson was pretty sure he'd start to go mad again.

_________________________________

Rebekah listened from the front seat as Henry and Paige talked animatedly about the appointment, Henry listing off all the facts he learned about this stage of Rebekah's pregnancy. Paige had even gone as far as to download a program on her home computer that tracked each stage of the pregnancy.

"My computer program told me that Bex's boobs are supposed to get bigger this week," Paige said nonchalantly causing Rebekah to let out a loud laugh at what she said.

"Paige!" Rebekah said, still laughing.

"Gross!" Henry said in disgust.

"I'm just saying what my computer said!" Paige said with an innocent face that caused Rebekah to grin. "Are we going to find out if it's a boy or girl this appointment?" she then asked in excitement.

Rebekah frowned. "No." She said, "I want to wait a little while longer."

Both kids groaned. "But Auntie Bex, it says you have to start thinking of a name!" Henry complained.

She chuckled. "There are plenty of gender-neutral names, Henry," Rebekah said and then began to list some. "Alex, Sam, Erin with an 'E' and Aaron with an 'AA' or Jamie, or-"

"I think you should name him Henry," her nephew said causing her to chuckle.

"She can't name the baby Henry , Henry," Paige told him. "You already have that name."

"Yeah, but only because my Mom named me after my Grandpa," Henry said and Rebekah instantly frowned. It had been so long since she had thought about her father. "Bex can name her child after him, too." He went on, "I can be Henry Mills and the baby would be Henry..." Henry made a face and looked to Rebekah in the rearview mirror. "What's the baby's last name gonna be?" he asked.

Williams. That's what Jefferson said his last name was. Rebekah forced a smile and focused on the road, thankful when Paige began to speak again.

"It doesn't work like that, Henry. You guys will have the same last name unless Rebekah ever got married."

Ouch. Rebekah forced another smile. "I still really like the name Avocado." Rebekah teased, wanting to lighten the moment. It worked because both of the kids laughed and shook their head, teasing Rebekah about the little nickname she had been calling her unborn child.

"Bex, when will we be able to feel the baby kick?" Paige asked.

"That's a question you're going to have to ask Dr. Porter, sweetie," Rebekah told Paige as they pulled into the hospital's underground parking area. "She's the one with all the answers."

"Bex?" Paige said again as they parked the car. Rebekah looked over her shoulder to the little girl, watching as she nervously twirled her thumbs. "Do you think that maybe..." She sighed and Rebekah watched as her cheeks turned pink. Paige took in a deep breath before she asked her question. "I already asked my Mom if it was okay and she said it would be okay if you were okay with it." She began to ramble. "But...can me and Henry have a sleepover at your house tonight?"

Rebekah couldn't describe the feeling. It was like being overcome with incredibly sadness and happiness at the same time. "Your mom is okay with it?" Rebekah asked, a wave of nausea coming over at her when she said the question. She closed her eyes and pressed her hand to her stomach, wanting to settle her unborn child who was choosing that moment to kick at her. When she opened her eyes, Paige was nodding her head. Rebekah took in a deep breath, rubbing at her belly and laughing a little at how active the baby was in that moment. "Both of you," Rebekah motioned for them to lean over the front seat. "See if you can feel it."

Henry and Paige quickly moved up, both nearly climbing over the seat to be able to touch Rebekah's belly. Henry frowned, moving his hand over her stomach but not being able to feel the baby moving. Paige however let out a startled gasp and Rebekah knew that she was able to feel the baby moving.

"Is that?" She whispered while looking up at Rebekah.

Rebekah smiled and nodded her head. "I think the baby really wants the two of you to have a sleepover," she said with a little chuckle. Paige let out another little gasp when she felt the baby move again and Henry continued to complain that he couldn't feel anything, even when he'd place his hand right where Paige's had been.

Once they were inside, Paige excitedly told Dr. Porter about how she had felt the baby moving and Jane had given Rebekah a shocked expression, almost as if she wanted to double check what Paige was claiming to feel was actually the baby moving. Rebekah smiled and nodded her head, letting Jane know that it wasn't just a random twitch of muscles of a gas bubble. That it was, in fact, the baby moving.

"Wow, Paige!" Jane said with a smile. "You must have super powers!" she said and then explained that this far into the pregnancy that mostly only the mothers could feel the baby moving around and that she and the baby must have a powerful connection. Rebekah tried to keep smiling and not let a feeling of sadness wash over her at Jane's words.

Paige and the baby were connected. They shared a father.

Rebekah watched the way Paige's eyes lit up at Jane's words and how the little girl turned and looked up at her with a big grin. Rebekah forced a happier smile and pressed her hand to the top of Paige's's head, mussing with her hair a little. It wasn't just the baby that felt connected to Paige...it was Rebekah, too.

"Paige, why don't you call your mother and ask if you can stay the whole weekend?" Rebekah said, feeling a bitter aftertaste in her mouth afterwards, blaming it on indigestion. Paige grinned and nodded her head excitedly and Rebekah looked to Henry and told him to do the same. The two kids ran out of the room to call for permission leaving Rebekah and Jane alone in the exam room.

"It really is remarkable that Paige could feel the baby moving," Jane said, putting the ultrasound jelly on Rebekah's now exposed belly.

"Maybe not so remarkable," Rebekah mumbled under her breath, closing her eyes in sadness.

Jane was quiet; she continued to do the measurements and once everything was taken care of, she pressed her hand to Rebekah's. "Still haven't heard from Jefferson?" she asked. Jane was the only one who knew about Jefferson's disappearing act. Rebekah had called her in tears when Jefferson didn't return, begging for Jane to search the woods with her to make sure he wasn't hurt or lost somewhere. It was Jane that finally made Rebekah realize that Jefferson hadn't had any intention on returning.

It broke her heart but Rebekah was glad to have a friend with her in that moment. Seeing as Emma and Mary-Margaret were avoiding her at that point. Still were, in fact.

"No," Rebekah answered Jane's question.

"I'm sorry, Bex," Jane said sadly. "You don't deserve this." She sighed, "But thankfully you are no longer showing any signs of preeclampsia so whatever you're doing to keep your blood pressure down -- continue," she said with a smile.

Rebekah gave her a kind smile and Henry and Paige came in just as they were about to hear the baby's heartbeat again.

"Look!" Henry said as they watched the baby move on the screen. "I can see the legs!"

"And the head!" Paige added as she gripped onto Rebekah's hand. "Is that he hand? It looks like it's waving!"

Rebekah looked over to Paige and smiled; nearly missing what Jane said next. But she hadn't. Her eyes widened as she quickly looked back to Jane who had her hand covering her mouth while muttering 'shit' under her breath. "I'm so sorry, Bex!" She apologized. "I know you wanted to wait to know the sex until later--"

"It's a boy?" Rebekah said, tears filling in her eyes.

"He's the most active baby I've ever seen!" Jane had said earlier without realizing it.

Jane lowered her hand from her mouth and frowned. "Yeah." She apologized again. "I didn't even think before I spoke."

"Jane," Rebekah cut her off. "Shut up," she said with a little laugh before her eyes went back to the screen. "I'm having a boy." She whispered in complete shock, her words soft and filled with love.

Jane smiled. "You are."

We're having a boy, Jefferson, Rebekah thought to herself.

"Another Henry Mills!" Henry said happily causing the whole room to laugh.

No, Rebekah thought in amusement. She and Jefferson would pick out the name together. She just had to find him. Which meant going to Emma for help. It was risky but Rebekah needed Jefferson. And even if he didn't feel the same way about her as she did him, she wanted him in their child's life.

Hopefully Emma was willing to help make that possible.