STORYBROOKE, Maine

Rebekah caressed Jefferson's hair, fingers skimming against his scalp softly as she listened to him whimper out his apologies. He apologized over and over, tears running down his cheeks as he begged for forgiveness, in and out of consciousness. She didn't understand. What had happened? Clearly he had escaped from that hellish place, but how did he get so bruised and bloody? What the hell happened, she continued to ask herself over and over again as she tried to help keep him as calm as possible. The hand that wasn't running through his hair was placed right above his heart with his hand wrapped around her wrist, refusing to let go. And when Jane finally arrived and knocked on her front door, Rebekah simply shouted for her to come in and let her know that they were upstairs.

The sound of Jane hurrying up the stairs promoted Rebekah to shift a bit only to have Jefferson let out a groan, his hand still wrapped tightly around her wrist. "Please, no," Jefferson whispered. "Don't leave me again."

He had been repeating that, too, for the last fifteen minutes while they waited for Jane, continuing to apologize, to beg for forgiveness and plead with her that she never leave him again. "I won't leave you," she would reply each time. "I promise."

Jane found her in the bathroom with Jefferson's head laying on her lap and her eyes widened upon seeing the towels Rebekah had used to wipe away the blood from Jefferson, resting right by her legs.

"It's not mine." Rebekah assured her, seeing the panic in her eyes. "I'm okay."

Jane nodded, gripping tightly to her bag and then moved herself so she was crouched down over Jefferson, examining his face. When Jane moved her hand closer to Jefferson, the man whimpered and squeezed at Rebekah's wrist.

Rebekah looked up at Jane and gave her a little nod, seeing the concern in her doctor's eyes. "It's okay," she told her. "He's not hurting me."

"I'm more concerned about your baby, Rebekah." Jane spoke honestly. "You need to go lay down. How the hell did you manage to get him up here? Do you know how dangerous that was? I'm taking your blood pressure before I fix him up."

"The baby," Jefferson whispered, eyes opening as he looked up at Rebekah. "Is she okay?"

Rebekah couldn't help but smile a little as she looked down at him. "She?" she said in amusement. "I was unaware that I was having a girl," Rebekah said in a light teasing tone. Jefferson closed his eyes and moved her hand from his heart to his face, nuzzling his cheek against the back of her hand.

When Rebekah looked back to Jane, the doctor was looking at her with concern. "You need to be in bed, Rebekah," she told her but Rebekah shook her head. Jane gave her a look and opened her mouth to argue, but Rebekah stopped.

"I will," she told Jane. "But not until I know he's okay and that there's no internal bleeding or whatever."

Jane huffed but opened her bag, clearly knowing how stubborn Rebekah was. "I wasn't playing around when I said I'm taking your blood pressure first," the doctor told Rebekah, motioning for her to roll up her sleeves. The pregnant woman rolled up the sleeve of her shirt in annoyance, following Janes orders and waited for the results.

"If my blood pressure is high, it's because you're stressing me out by not checking on Jefferson first." Rebekah snarked causing Jane to try and fight a smile but failed miserably as she focused on checking Rebekah's blood pressure. However, the failed attempt at hiding a smile turned into something else when Jane made a face that didn't sit well with Rebekah. "What?" She asked, now concerned that something actually was wrong with her baby. Oh God, what have I done? She wondered in a panic.

Jane looked to Rebekah, her eyes filled with absolute surprise and curiosity. "Your blood pressure is completely normal," she said. "Below what it was at our first appointment. How in the hell," she started to say but then looked down at Jefferson, who had let out a groan of pain. Rebekah watched as Dr. Porter's eyes widened as she looked down at Jefferson. In a panic, Rebekah quickly looked down to where Jane's eyes were now focused and saw that doctor was looking at the scar around Jefferson's neck.

"It was a long time ago," Rebekah said quickly, prompting Jane to look back to her.

"How long?" Jane asked.

Rebekah shrugged. "I," she sighed. Regina told Rebekah that Jefferson had tried to take his life after she had broken up with him -- after she adopted Henry. "Ten years ago, I think."

"Do you have any idea how he got in this shape?" Jane asked, sensing that Rebekah was uncomfortable speaking about the subject of Jefferson's scar.

"I don't know -- he's..." She stopped, debating on telling Jane about where Jefferson had been for the last few weeks. Rebekah closed her eyes, knowing that she needed to give Jane all the information so that there was nothing she would miss while checking Jefferson. Rebekah wouldn't forgive herself if Jane missed something because Rebekah didn't tell her the truth about Jefferson. She couldn't even think that. Rebekah just got him back. She wasn't about to lose him. "Regina had him placed in the mental institution at the hospital."

Jane's eyes widened. "Rebekah!"

She shook her head, not wanting to hear how insane it was that she was being to allow Jefferson to even be in her home. "Regina has been trying to control my life for as long as I can remember and I don't know if what she said about Jefferson is the truth. What I do know is that...he's the father of my child," Rebekah said, voice breaking slightly. "And I...I don't think he should have been placed in the mental institution in the first place. I don't think he's a danger to himself or me. And he clearly went through hell trying to escape that place to get back to me..." Rebekah closed her eyes when tears started to form, trying to keep them from falling but one was stubborn enough to escape through her tightly shut eyes, rolling down her cheek. "Please, Jane...I can't...I can't do this without him."

She opened her eyes at the sound of Jane letting out a long sigh. "Fine," her doctor agreed. "But I don't like this. If anything happens to you or your baby because of him, I swear to God..."

Rebekah smiled fondly at Jane, seeing now that her trust was well placed. "Nothing is going to happen," she assured the woman.

Jane let out another sigh but motioned for Rebekah to move Jefferson's head a bit so she could better examine him. "I'm going to need you to get me some more wet towels and we're going to be moving him to your bed, Bex, but if you feel any bit of discomfort..."

"I'll tell you," Rebekah told Jane only to have the doctor narrow her eyes at her, probably needing to know that Rebekah knew how serious she was being. "I will , " Rebekah stressed. "I mean, I 'll feel guilty for making you do all the work , but I will tell you."

"Alright," Jane told her. She then focused on Jefferson. "Jefferson?" Jane said his name, trying to gain his attention. "Jefferson, can you tell me where it hurts?" But Jefferson kept his eyes closed. The doctor frowned and then looked to Rebekah and gave her a little nod of her head that read; you try?

"Jefferson?" Rebekah said his name softly, fingers running through his hair. "Where does it hurt?" She asked him and Jefferson slowly opened his eyes to look up at her, his beautiful blue eyes bloodshot and full of tears. Rebekah frowned, moving down to press her lips to just above his brow where there was a cut. "Tell me where it hurts, okay? I need to make sure you're okay." She whispered, lips moving against his skin causing him to let out another whimper of a sound. His grip on her wrist loosened a bit, but he didn't let go. He simply pulled her hand down to the side of his stomach. Rebekah sighed in relief that he was complying and looked to Jane who understood what he was doing too.

"Jefferson, I'm going to need to undo your shirt. Is that alright?" Jane asked.

He shook his head, gripping tightly onto Rebekah's wrist again. "Bex," he said.

She sighed. "Jefferson, Jane is a doctor -- she knows what she's doing. I don't want to hurt you." She told him and he shook his head again.

"You could never," he mumbled, moving her wrist to his mouth and pressing a soft kiss to her pulse point. Rebekah closed her eyes and tried to not feel all the emotions building up in her chest at that moment.

"You have to let go, Jefferson," Rebekah told him, moving her hand out of his grip so that she could use both of her hands. He didn't fight her which Rebekah was grateful for. The pregnant woman moved Jefferson's head back down onto the towels and moved herself so that she was in front of him now, slowly unbuttoning his shirt so that Jane could examine him. Rebekah felt tears fill in her eyes again when she saw light bruises across his ribs.

Jane quickly moved her hands to the bruised area and examined it thoroughly. "The bruising isn't the shade it normally would be if he were bleeding internally," she said. "In fact," Jane moved his shirt open more to get a better look at things, "He barely has any injuries."

"What?" Rebekah said in confusion. "No - he was bleeding." She moved forward to look at his torso, trying to find where the blood had been earlier when she found him on her porch. "That's not possible -- he was bleeding. I mean, you saw my porch, I assume."

Jane nodded her head, seeing how worked up Rebekah was getting. "He does have a large cut on his head and just above his brow. Bex -- the blood could have been from that."

"No," Rebekah shook her head. "No...I, I could have sworn."

"Bex," Jefferson whispered her name. "Is the baby..." Rebekah looked down at him to see his blue eyes peering up at her.

Jane answered for Rebekah. "The baby is doing just fine, Jefferson." She assured him causing Rebekah to look over to her, a grateful smile playing on her lips. "So is Rebekah," Jane said next. "But if you can...perhaps you can help us both by standing up so we can get you into bed? Helping lift you to the bed isn't something Rebekah should be doing right now."

"Bex?"

Rebekah looked down at Jefferson again. "Hm?"

"I love you so much," he whispered.

Rebekah bit down on her lower lip, stomach clenching in that moment as she looked away from Jefferson. All she wanted to do was tell him that she loved him too. But...she needed answers before she put herself through any more possible future heartbreak by uttering those words back to Jefferson.

"How about you go and get some water for Jefferson and maybe a couple of Tylenol for the pain?" Jane suggested, seeing the pained expression Rebekah was wearing.

She nodded her head and moved to stand up, leaving Jane to help Jefferson to the bed. Once she was out of her bedroom, Rebekah pressed her back against the wall in her hallway and closed her eyes. In...out...in...out, she told herself as she tried to calm herself.

After managing to pull herself together, Rebekah pushed forward and went and got more towels for Jefferson. "What have you gotten yourself into, Jefferson?" She whispered to herself.

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

At nine years old, everything was magic to Rebekah Mills. The sound the trees made during a wind storm, the way the birds sang each morning when she woke up, the smell of the forest surrounding her home -- it was all magic. Good magic. The only magic she wanted in her life. Because any other magic, she had learned early on, was not good. Her mother's magic for instance. That was not good magic. Her mother was not good. Rebekah had yet to figure out if that had to with with her having magic or not. Was her mother always a monster or was she created into one?

"Yay! Regina!" Rebekah clapped her hands together while jumping up and down in excitement while watching her older sister go through the small course their father had built so that Regina could practice with her horse. Rebekah watched in wonder as the horse galloped to the next beam, jumping over it so gracefully that Regina hardly moved while a top it. Their father laughed loudly as he stood next to Rebekah, watching his eldest daughter while he kept his hand pressed down on Rebekah's shoulder to keep her from running forward too soon.

Finally, once she was off the horse, Henry Mills let go of Rebekah's shoulder and watched as she ran to her older sister, who opened one arm to engulf her little sister in a hug while bringing in her horse.

"You did so good, Regina!" Rebekah said, hugging her sister tightly.

Regina chuckled and kissed the top of Rebekah's head before they both walked over to their father, Regina letting go of Rebekah to hug the older man. "That was beautiful, sweetheart," their father said to Regina as they hugged.

"Thank you, Daddy!" Regina kissed his cheek.

"Beautiful?" A voice scoffed. Rebekah flinched, knowing the voice all too well and instantly cowered behind Regina and their father. "I hardly call that beautiful," Cora chastised, walking over to them with the stable boy, Daniel.

"You didn't like it, Mother?" Regina asked. Rebekah kept hidden behind Regina, tugging tightly to her blue petticoat, a way of begging Regina not to say something that might anger their mother.

"You ride like a man," Cora answered Regina's question. Regina looked to her father and then down at Rebekah, making a silly face to try and calm the small girl's nerves. "A lady should be graceful," Cora went on. "You should use a saddle."

"I was just having fun," Regina said with a little chuckle while petting her horse's nose.

"You're getting a little old for fun," Cora said to Regina. "Who's going to want to marry you when you behave like a commoner?"

Henry Mills moved to step in front of both Rebekah and Regina. "Honey," he said in a soft, yet stern tone. "Please leave her alone."

"Stop coddling her!" Cora spat out. "She's becoming an old maid. All the other girls her age are married." Cora sighed loudly. "I had such high hopes," she said dramatically.

"Milady." Daniel stepped forward, holding onto a saddle. "Perhaps this saddle--"

Regina cut him off before he could finish. "I'm done riding for the day," she said loudly as she walked over to Daniel. "And don't ever interrupt me and my mother again."

Rebekah stayed hidden behind her father, holding onto his legs tightly as she watched Daniel take the horse from Regina. She frowned, not understanding why Regina was acting so cold towards him after he had tried to help.

When Daniel was gone, Regina sighed before looking to her mother. "Why do you always have to criticize me?"

"I'm not criticizing you," Cora said, mocking offense by Regina's words. "I'm helping you."

Regina shook her head in anger and walked past Cora. Rebekah watched in horror as her mother's face twisted in anger. "Don't you walk away from me!" she said and rose her hand, magic oozing from her fingertips that wrapped around Regina's legs until she was lifted in the air.

"Mother!" Regina shouted, not able to get out of their mother's magical grips, floating back over to where Cora stood. "You know I don't like it when you use magic!"

Cora laughed at that. "And I don't like insolence, " she told Regina, lowering her hand but Regina was still trapped in the air. "I'll stop using magic when you start being an obedient daughter."

Regina scoffed. "Why can't I just be myself?!" she yelled.

"Oh," Cora said sadly. "Because you can be so much more." She stressed the words. "If you'd just let me help you."

"I don't care about status!" Regina told her mother. "I just want to be --oh!" Regina gasped out as Cora raised her hand again, shackles appearing and wrapping around Regina's torso now causing Rebekah to cry out.

"Stop it!" She shouted, running forward with her hand raised to strike her mother only to be pulled back by her father who quickly scooped her up in his arms to protect her from Cora's wrath.

"Cora, please!" He begged his wife.

Regina gasped for air as the shackles tightened, barely able to get out the words. "Please...I'll be good."

The shackles unwrapped around Regina and she was slowly lowered back down to the ground. "Excellent," Cora said with a false smile. "That's all I wanted to hear."

Regina ran from Cora, leaving Henry and Rebekah alone with her. Once she was out of sight, Cora turned to face her husband and youngest daughter.

"Don't think that just because my back was turned to you, dear Rebekah, that I didn't see you," she said, voice low as she stepped forward only to have Henry step backwards, trying to keep as much space between his wife and daughter as possible.

"Cora," Henry said, voice shaking while trying to protect his youngest. "Enough."

Cora rolled her eyes dramatically. "Go inside, Rebekah. I'll deal with you later." Rebekah gripped tightly onto her father, not wanting him to let go of her. When she looked to Cora, her eyes were narrowed into a glare. "I said now!"

Henry lowered Rebekah onto the ground and held onto her hand, urging her to walk with him. On their way back to their home, Rebekah let silent tears fall, only sniffling when she couldn't help it. Each time she did sniffle, her father would squeeze at her hand. "You have to be strong, little one," he told her.

"Why doesn't she love me?" Rebekah asked causing Henry to stop, the older man swiftly moving to stand in front of Rebekah, bending down to cup her face in his hands.

"I love you," h e assured you. "Your sister loves you," he added. "You are loved."

She sniffled and nodded her head. And though she craved for her mother's affections, Rebekah knew now that she'd never receive them. Rebekah didn't need her mother's love. She only needed her father's and Regina's.

It's all the love she'd ever need.

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

"Thanks for letting me know, Emma," Jefferson heard Rebekah say from the hallway and instantly felt his heart drop. He hadn't known how long he had been asleep but the woman -- doctor, who had helped him off the bathroom floor was gone when he opened his eyes to look at his surroundings. He was home. He hadn't dreamt it; this was his home. The home he shared with Rebekah in the Enchanted Forest. But...it wasn't. He frowned, sitting up a bit in the bed when he first woke up and looked at all the new additions to his bedroom. They were more accommodating in this world; the furniture. But they were nearly identical to the ones they had back in the Enchanted Forest. He didn't know if Gold had done that on purpose or if...maybe Rebekah subconsciously made up this house the exact way it had been the first time they lived in it. Only...slightly more modern.

"Yeah, no, I understand." Rebekah's voice grew louder. She was getting closer to the room. "No, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near him either." He swallowed hard, looking at the doorway as he waited for her. Expecting the absolute worst. Would she tell him to get out? To leave her sight and never return? Would she call her sister to take him back to the mental hospital or Emma to come arrest him? Would she tell him she hated him for what he had done and that she would never forgive his actions? Rebekah walked through the door and then did something Jefferson was not expecting. She let out a sigh of relief and smiled softly at him. "Emma, I'll call you back."

She got off the phone and walked over to him slowly and Jefferson inhaled deeply, watching her every move. "Bex..." He whispered her name.

"You are really stupid, you know that?" She said and Jefferson nodded his head in agreement, waiting for her to lash out at him. But she didn't. Rebekah walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it, reaching her hand out to brush his hair back. "Do you have any idea how stupid it was to breakout of the asylum?" She asked him with a frown. Jefferson opened and closed his mouth, not knowing what to say. Rebekah dropped her hand from his hair and grabbed a glass of water from the nightstand and handed it to him to drink. He did as instructed, still shocked that she was being so civil to him after what he had done. "Jane says you're in withdrawal from all the meds they were pumping into your system."

He blinked, not understanding. That's why he was stupid? What about for him kidnapping Mary-Margaret and holding her and Emma hostage? He moved forward a bit to place the glass of water down on the nightstand again after drinking a good sum of it. "Bex, I..."

"Jefferson." She stopped him from saying anything further by holding up her hands. She sighed, closing her eyes briefly before looking back at him. "I need the truth," she pleaded. "Okay? I need to hear it from you. Everything that Regina had said...that you two were together...was that true?"

"No." He sat up almost a little too quickly, a rush of dizziness causing him to sit back to keep the room from spinning. "No, none of that was true." Jefferson forced himself to look at Rebekah, waiting until there weren't two of her to answer. "Rebekah, I would never be with Regina."

"Why did she go through all this then?" she asked, motioning to him. Why'd she go through framing me and having me placed into a mental institution? Oh, because we're all cursed and she's actually the Evil Queen. Jefferson shook his head knowing that if he said what he was thinking, she'd think he was crazy. Rebekah was still cursed. "Why tell me that you two were together?"

He moved his hand to hold hers, fingers lacing with her own. "Believe me when I say this." He looked into her eyes. "I have never been with Regina . I will never be with Regina. She is a liar."

Rebekah frowned but her eyes softened slightly. Which let Jefferson know that she knew he was being honest. It was something she learned quickly on in their relationship -- when Jefferson was or wasn't being honest with her. It had always amazed him, and it still did.

"I," he started to say only to stop when his eyes drifted down to her stomach. Jefferson's face pinched together as he tried not to let his emotions get the best of him. "I've missed so much," he said, voice breaking as he moved his hand to rest on her belly. Rebekah pulled back after inhaling sharply and moved herself off of the bed. He frowned and watched as she put some distance between them by standing on the other side of the room.

Rebekah rubbed at her arms before she crossed them over her chest and leaned against the wall. "Look," she sighed. "I...I know you're not lying to me about Regina," she said. "I believe you."

"But?" He got off of the bed and walked over to her. Rebekah avoided his eyes when he moved to stand in front of her. "You believe me but..."

You kidnapped her friends, a voice mentally chastised Jefferson.

Rebekah finally looked at him. "The things you said to me when I visited you -- that Regina is the Evil Queen and that you and I are married." Jefferson pressed his lips together to keep from blurting out that all of those things were true. "Was it because of the medicine?" He didn't say anything and Rebekah closed her eyes while shaking her head. "It is," she answered herself. "God." She opened her eyes but wouldn't meet his. "How can you even stand the sight of me?" Rebekah asked him. "I'm the whole reason you were even in that place. Regina locked you away because of her insane need to control my life. I did this to you. You must hate me!"

Jefferson moved forward when her eyes finally met his and placed his hand against her cheek, thumb rubbing against her skin causing Rebekah to close her eyes, head tilting into his hand as she let out a little sigh. "You didn't," he told her, watching the way her chest rose and fell every few seconds. "And I could never hate you," Jefferson said next causing Rebekah to open her eyes and look up into his. "I lo-" He didn't get to finish. Rebekah had grabbed a fistfull of his shirt and pulled him to her, lips crushing against his in a needy kiss.

He smiled against her lips, listening to her little moan as he grabbed her by the hips to lift her so that her legs wrapped around his middle.

"Wait, wait, wait." Rebekah gasped between kisses as he moved them to their bed. Jefferson moved his mouth down from her lips to her jawline and then down to her neck, leaving greedy kisses all over her skin while nipping at the flesh. "Jefferson," she moaned as her back hit the mattress. "Wait, I just..." He kissed at her pulse point and Rebekah let out the most beautiful noise he had ever heard, one of his most favorite noises she made and soon enough, she was pulling his mouth back to hers and whatever she wanted to say was far out of her mind and the room was filled with their pants and moans and groans and Jefferson whispering over and over again his love for Rebekah.

But she never said it back to him. Rebekah would only hold onto him tighter or bite down onto his shoulder and press her lips to his to silence his words.

Rebekah loved him. In the Enchanted Forest, a wicked voice whispered in his head. But here in Storybrooke? He silenced those voices by focusing on Rebekah and listened to the sound of her breathing and the feel of her skin under his. She loves me, he told himself.

Jefferson held onto the memory of their wedding, of the words she said to him.

"Lucky for you, you don't have to imagine a life without me, Jefferson. Because even if we are ever seperated, my heart is yours and it'll recognize you and love you no matter what."

She loved him. Jefferson knew it deep down in his soul. Rebekah still loved him.

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

"Is it true, Daddy?" Rebekah asked as she hurried down the hall with her father. She had heard her mother yelling at the staff all morning that the King was coming to visit, that Regina had saved his daughters life the day before and that he wanted to thank her in person. But Rebekah wanted to hear it herself -- she wanted to be told. She may have only been nine years old, but the young girl was quite intelligent and very perceptive. Her mother would not be making such a big fuss over this unless she were gaining something out of the King's visit.

"Yes, sweetheart," her father said, not slowing his pace. "And we are to greet him when he arrives. Now, hurry your little legs, my love."

Rebekah giggled, fiddling with the dress her mother had set out for her to wear for the grand event. When they made it to the gates, Rebekah's eyes widened in wonder as she saw the large party that joined the King on his journey to their home.

Rebekah grinned widely before bowing to the King once he was in front of them, lifting her skirts as she curtsied causing the older man to chuckle. "So very regal, little miss." He smiled as Rebekah stood up, keeping her posture straight like her mother taught her. "And who are you? Are you the girl who saved my daughter?" he asked. "I pictured you...taller." He teased causing Rebekah to giggle.

"Your Grace, it's an honor to have you in our home." Henry Mills bowed his head to the King once he made eye contact. "This is my youngest; Rebekah."

"And how old are you, Rebekah?" He asked after giving Henry a swift nod of his head, his attention now turned back to the young girl.

"Nine, Your Grace," Rebekah answered.

He smiled. "My daughter is ten," the King told Rebekah. "I think the two of you would get along splendidly," he said and then extended his hand for Rebekah to grab. "Might you show me where your older sister is?" he asked.

Rebekah giggled and placed her small hand in his large one and led him to where she knew Regina was getting ready for her riding lessons with the stable boy. They found Regina and Cora quickly, Rebekah's eyes widening when she saw the beautiful light blue dress her sister now wore.

"Is that her?" The King asked, still holding onto Rebekah's hand as he looked at Regina and Cora.

"Yes," Henry answered. Rebekah watched as her mother bowed to the King. "Regina." Their father snapped Regina out of her trance. "This is Snow White's father," he told her causing Regina to smile and quickly bow as well.

"No." The King dropped Rebekah's hand and slowly made his way to Regina. "It is I who should bow to you." Rebekah watched as her older sister slowly straightened her posture, eyes wide in shock at the King's words. "You saved my daughter's life." He said the words softly. "There is no way to repay that debt. It is an honor to meet you." Rebekah quickly clapped her hand over her mouth to muffle her gasp as the King bowed to Regina, who was at a loss for words as well.

"Regina, dear," Cora said, "The King's honored to meet you. Say something."

"Oh," Regina chuckled. "The honor is mine!"

The King smiled at Regina. "You're quite lucky to have a mother who looks out for you," he told Regina and Rebekah quickly cast her eyes down to the ground. He was wrong -- their mother was cruel. How could he not see that? "My dear Snow White has many things but a mother is not one of them," he said next. "We lost her years ago."

"I'm so sorry," Regina said, a frown forming on her lips as she closed her eyes briefly.

He nodded his head. "Since then I have scoured the land looking for a wife," the King admitted. "I've yet to find a woman with an interest in my daughter...until now."

Rebekah watched as Regina's eyes widened in shock as the King turned, motioning for one of his men to bring over a small box that was pressed atop a velvet pillow. Regina's eyes met her younger sister's briefly, hand pressed to her stomach, something Regina always did when she was panicking.

And then the King got down on one knee and Rebekah understood her sister's panic. She had read about it in stories; about a man loving a woman enough to get down on one knee and ask her to spend the rest of their lives together. It was always a magical moment...but Regina still looked terrified.

"Will you marry me, Regina?" the King asked.

Regina never gave him her answer. Cora answered for her. "Yes," their mother said causing both Rebekah and Regina to look over at her sharply. "Yes," she said again, reaching for Regina's hand, pinching down on her finger causing Regina to gasp and look at the King.

"Regina!" A voice said happily. Running into the room was a girl who looked around the same age as Rebekah. She smiled when the little girl flung herself into Regina's arms and hugged her tightly. Regina hugged the little girl back, an uncomfortable smile being forced on her lips.

After Snow White was introduced to her future grandmother, Cora motioned for Rebekah to step forward. "Rebekah, my dear, why don't you show Snow White all of your toys?"

Rebekah nodded and walked over to where Snow White stood. "Hi," she said sheepishly, bowing her head to the princess. "My name is Rebekah."

Snow White smiled happily at Rebekah. "My name is Snow," she said.

"Would you like to see my toys?" Rebekah asked, still incredibly shy. Snow White grinned and nodded her head in excitement. "Do you like dolls?" Rebekah asked.

"I love dolls!" Snow White said happily.

Rebekah grinned and held out her hand for Snow White to take. The little girl did so with a smile and the two hurried out of the room causing the King and Cora to laugh.

"I see them being friends for life , " Rebekah heard the King say as they giggled while running up the stairs.

I hope so, Rebekah found herself wishing.

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

Rebekah kept her head nuzzled against Jefferson's chest, laying in silence next to him as his fingers gently ran through her hair. Was she mad for allowing this to happen? To jump right back into bed with a man who escaped a mental institution? Hormones, she could hear Jane saying. Apparently the fifteenth week of pregnancy really did increase her libido. But Rebekah was all too painfully aware of that with the dreams she had been having of Jefferson for the past few days. Dreams that felt so real that Rebekah had to pinch herself when she'd wake up just to figure out what was and wasn't real.

"What's on your mind?" Jefferson asked quietly, stilling running his fingers through her hair.

She sighed. "Mary-Margaret." Rebekah felt Jefferson's body tense and gave into a little chuckle. "Don't worry, Jefferson, I haven't switched teams on you." He let out a choke of a laugh and continued playing with her hair. "I don't know if you've heard but Mary-Margaret is in jail awaiting trial for murdering Kathryn Nolan."

Jefferson shifted a little bit, pulling Rebekah with him so that they were facing each other as they continued to lie on the bed. "Do you think she did it?" he asked her.

Rebekah shook her head. "No," she said honestly. "I've known Mary-Margaret forever and...she would never do something like that -- not even for love. It's awful that she's even a suspect."

Jefferson swallowed hard and moved his hand to rest on Rebekah's chest, right above her heart. "Sometimes...people do things they wouldn't normally do...for love."

Rebekah sighed. "Yeah, I know," she agreed. Mary-Margaret had done quite a few stupid things that stemmed from her feelings for David Nolan. Was it love? Perhaps. But now Mary-Margaret was suffering the consequences for loving David. "But I know in my heart that Mary-Margaret didn't hurt Kathryn. She called me once at 2 AM to help her get rid of a spider in her apartment because she didn't have the stomach to kill it."

Jefferson smiled softly at her words. He then frowned. "You were on the phone with Emma when I woke up..." He licked at his lower lip, tongue dashing over his plump, very kissable, pink lips. Rebekah forced herself to look away from his mouth because if she kept watching his lips, well, it was obvious what would happen. It was the same thing that had already happened twice since this morning.

"Yeah," Rebekah said, focusing back on what Jefferson had said. "She called to tell me about David Nolan asking to come see Mary-Margaret."

He nodded his head slowly. "That's who you were talking about? When you said you wouldn't want to be anywhere near him either?"

"So you were eavesdropping," Rebekah said with a smirk, rather amused by the way Jefferson's face flushed red at the playfulness in her tone.

He closed his eyes and shook his head, lips forming into a sad frown. "God...I've missed you so much, Bex." He whispered, eyes still shut.

Rebekah frowned. He might not blame her for being locked away by Regina, but she would never stop blaming herself for everything he had gone through. Rebekah moved her thumb to brush against his lips, causing Jefferson to open them. "I'm here," she told him. "And I won't ever let Regina do something like that again. I promise," Rebekah whispered. "There is nothing in this world that is going to take you away from me again, Jefferson."

He let out a shudder before his hand moved to the back of her neck and his lips were quickly pressed against hers in a needy kiss.

I love you, Rebekah wanted to say.

But she was scared.

I love you, I love you, I love you, she heard in her head with each kiss, hoping that somehow her lips could convey how she felt when the words failed to come out of her mouth.

I love you so much, Jefferson.

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

It had been a week since the King came and within the next few hours, Regina would be crowned Queen in the beautiful castle they would all soon call home. But something was wrong. Rebekah could see it in her sister's eyes. The heartbreak. She didn't understand what had happened. Nights ago, Rebekah had listened to her older sister wail herself to sleep. But when she went to her bedroom to try and comfort her, Regina had sent her away. Why was she so sad? Something must have happened.

"There," Snow White said, finally done styling Rebekah's hair. The two girls sat in front of the Snow White's vanity, Rebekah with her back facing the mirror while Snow White concentrated on perfecting her hair. Rebekah sat up from her chair and turned to look in the mirror and smiled widely, seeing that they were both wearing the same style. Rebekah had admired Snow White's long black hair and the way it was put together when she saw her earlier and wished that her hair might look that nice for the wedding. But Cora was off helping Regina and the only person left to do Rebekah's hair was her father. And as much as she loved him, the older man knew nothing about styling a little girl's hair.

"I love it!" Rebekah said with a giggle, grabbing onto Snow White's hands and the two began to spin, the room filled with the sound of their giggles.

"I'm so happy that we will be family," Snow White said once they stopped spinning, both still giggling. "I thought perhaps it might not happen but...I am so very glad that it did."

Rebekah looked at Snow White in confusion. "What?" She didn't understand. "Why?"

"Oh, because of Dan-"

"Rebekah!"

The two girls looked over to the door to find Regina standing on the other side of the hallway. Snow White grinned. "You look so beautiful!" She was unphased by Regina's harsh tone. But Rebekah recognized it. It was almost as if an echo of their mother's voice was coming from Regina's mouth. A cold harshness instead of a loving tone when Regina said her little sister's name. Rebekah frowned, not understanding why.

"Come here now," Regina ordered. "I've come to do your hair."

"Regina," Rebekah moved forward. "My hair is already done, see." She did a spin so Regina could see just how beautifully Snow had done her hair.

"I don't want your hair like that," Regina said with a forced smile, tone still harsh. "I want your hair like mine. "

"Oh, how lovely!" Snow White said happily, ushering Rebekah over to Regina. Rebekah watched as Regina gave Snow a look, a fake smile plastered on her face but fire behind her eyes.

Regina held out her hand for Rebekah to place hers in. Hesitantly, Rebekah did just that. But Regina's hand wrapped around hers tightly, gripping onto her tightly as she pulled Rebekah out of Snow White's bedroom, pulling her down the long hall until they were in Rebekah's bedroom. She flinched when Regina ripped the bow out of her hair and threw it on the ground before storming over to Rebekah's vanity to grab her brush. Rebekah held back tears as Regina brushed through her hair roughly, completely destroying all the work Snow White had just done.

"Regina, please, that hurts!"

Regina scoffed at her words. "You don't know hurt, Rebekah!" s he snarled. "I pray you never do!" s he spat out, the brush ripping out a chunk of her hair causing Rebekah to cry out. "No tears!" Regina said in anger, spinning Rebekah to face her. "Today is the happiest day of our lives." Her eyes were wild with rage. " This is our happily ever after."

No, Rebekah thought. No, this is a nightmare. Because the person in front of her, staring down at her with such hatred...that was not her kind and loving older sister. No, this had to be a nightmare. Rebekah moved her hand down to her arm and pinched tightly onto her skin, trying to wake herself up.

Regina laughed at her actions. It was something she had taught her years ago when she suffered from night terrors. Regina would tell Rebekah that if she ever wanted to wake up from one of her dreams to simply pinch herself hard enough to bring her back to reality.

But no matter how many times she pinched herself, no matter how hard she squeezed at her skin. She couldn't escape this nightmare.

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

Three days. That's how long they spent in bed together. "It's got to be a record," Rebekah said with a giggle as Jefferson dressed while she stayed wrapped up in the sheets.

Jefferson grinned, buttoning up his shirt. "We can try and break that record when I come back with my things." He looked over at her and smirked. He was feeling better than he had in nearly a week since escaping from the mental institution. His mind was free from the words of doubt and all his fears. He had Rebekah again and she had asked him to move in with her. He nearly had everything.

"You sure you wanna do this?" Rebekah asked him, watching as he buttoned the very top of his shirt to cover his scar, no scarf to hide it. "It's a pretty big step."

He chuckled. "You really have to ask?"

Rebekah smiled softly at him and then frowned. "I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you ran as far away as possible from me and my insane sister," she said, casting her eyes down to her hands.

Jefferson shook his head and moved to sit back down on the bed. "Nothing is going to keep you from me again, Bex," he said softly, pressing his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. Rebekah moved her hand to rest against his jawline, thumb stroking at the dimple in his chin. He pulled away slowly and felt his heart race at the look in her eyes.

Love .

It was all he could see.

"Jefferson...I," she inhaled sharply, closing her eyes before pressing her lips together. "I uh." Rebekah opened her eyes and smiled at him. "I'll be waiting," she told him.

Jefferson chuckled and nodded his head. "I'll be back in a bit," he promised her.

She grinned. "Don't keep me waiting too long." Rebekah smirked.

He grinned and quickly pressed another kiss to her lips before pulling away, taking one last look at her before he walked out of the room, telling her again that he'd be back in just a bit.

Jefferson felt like a million bucks as he walked through the woods between their home and his mansion, a grin on his face as he replayed the last few days in his head. He knew it would be hard to wait for Emma to break the curse, but being around Rebekah again helped. Being able to press his hand against the swell of her belly; knowing that once the curse was broken, Grace would have a little baby brother or sister waiting to meet her someday.

Grace had always wanted a sibling and now she'd finally have one.

Rebekah had mentioned Grace to him. Or, Paige. She told him she knew about the 'adoption' -- about how Paige Grace was his biological daughter. Grace was their daughter. But he knew if he said any more about the curse and their life before , she might pull away from him. And Jefferson couldn't take that risk. He only said, "Yes, she is my daughter." Rebekah didn't ask anymore questions. She just pressed a kiss to his chest above his heart and told him that someday, if he'd like, they could have Paige over. Rebekah told him about how before she even knew about the 'adoption' that she had told Paige that she could be their child's honorary big sister. That had made Jefferson laugh loudly, prompting Rebekah to swat at his chest while laughing too. "I didn't know how true that statement was at the time, Jefferson!"

But that's all they spoke about Grace.

Rebekah told him all about her pregnancy so far and her symptoms including the very vivid dreams that she had been having of him that sent him into a damn near frenzy when she began to describe them in detail. Not for reasons he'd normally get hot and bothered for -- but because they were memories. Rebekah was dreaming about the times they had together without even knowing it.

"Good morning, Jefferson." He looked up to see that Regina was waiting for him on his back porch. "Figured you'd come this way since you've been shacking up with my sister for the last few days." Jefferson's hands balled into fists as he tried to keep his anger from making him do something awful. He had thought it'd be safe to come to his house through the backwoods, not knowing if the Sheriff was out looking for him, but according to Rebekah, Emma was focusing on Mary-Margaret's case to the point where she wasn't even sleeping. Jefferson still didn't understand why Emma hadn't told Rebekah about what happened. She knew he was the father; how could she keep this from Rebekah.

He was grateful, but Jefferson was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. A part of him was scared that Emma might show up and find them together and haul his ass into jail after telling Rebekah what he had done.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jefferson snarled out through gritted teeth.

"I come with a warning," she told him, standing up and walking over to him. "You may think that I hate my sister...perhaps I did once," Regina admitted, "but I do not any longer."

"What are you getting at, Regina?" He glared.

"This ," she motioned around them, "isn't the only curse my sister is under," Regina told him. Jefferson shook his head, not believing her. "I knew your love was strong, I know there was a possibility that your love alone might break the curse...so I had a fail-safe."

Jefferson didn't want to believe her. He wanted to tell her to go to hell and to walk away and not listen to whatever lie she was about to spew out and go back to Rebekah. But he didn't.

"Have you noticed something... strange about Rebekah?" Regina questioned him. "Perhaps something she might have been able to say so easily before... but is trapped in her throat, unable to reach the surface?" she asked. "Rebekah may be able to say these three little words to anyone else...but not you."

He felt his heart beating wildly against his chest, his palms began to sweat and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Because he did notice.

"Do you want to know why?" Regina smirked.

"What the hell did you do to her?" he spat out.

"I couldn't risk the curse being broken," Regina told him. "And Rebekah vowed to find anyway to break it. She told me that no matter the magic, she'd break it and that yourlove," she said the word dramatically, "would be the key to that. That no matter the curse...the two of you would find each other; and that your love would be strong enough to break the curse."

He inhaled sharply, fearing what Regina would say next.

"So I've made it impossible for Rebekah to ever say those words to you."

He shook his head. "No."

"And if... somehow," she smirked, "her love for you was strong enough to get those words out, Rebekah would fall into a deep sleep that not even True Love's kiss can break. Because in this world, there is no magic. She'll never wake."

"You're lying!"

"I've lied about a lot of stuff when it comes to Rebekah. But she is my sister and I made a mistake all those years ago when I cast that curse and I refuse to let you be her downfall." Regina marched towards him. "It is in your best interest to stay away from Rebekah. Forever. "

He shook his head. "I won't."

"Jefferson..." Regina huffed. "I am not telling you to stay away from her. I am asking you because I don't want to lose her anymore than you do." He didn't believe her. "There are a lot of things I regret, Jefferson. My behavior towards Rebekah is one of them. Henry...she's his whole world. And I won't let you take her away from him. I won't let my sister fall into a coma because of you that she'll never be able to wake from. So...I'm asking you -- no, pleading with you to let her go," she said, voice breaking which surprised Jefferson. It surprised him even more when tears fell from Regina's eyes. "You already took her from me once. Please...it's not just me you'd be hurting this time. It'd be Henry, and Grace, and your unborn child."

He flinched at her words.

"The baby will die if Rebekah goes into a coma."

Jefferson felt tears of anger spill from his eyes. "Is this a game?"

"No," Regina told him. "This is me trying to save my baby sister." Jefferson shook his head, more tears falling as Regina continued on. "If you truly love her...stay away."

"You've lied to me before." He wiped away his tears. "How the hell do you expect me to believe you?"

"I don't." Regina spoke honestly. "I just hope you will. Because Rebekah and your unborn child's lives depends on it." Jefferson closed his eyes tight, not wanting to believe Regina. "Why else would I have you locked away, Jefferson?"

"Because you're a wretched bitch!" He opened his eyes to look at her.

"Because I'm trying to keep my sister alive!" she shouted at him. "If I really saw her as a problem, I would have let her bleed out all over my kitchen floor when she nearly miscarried but I didn't! I rushed her to the hospital. I saved her life! Are you so selfish that you'd risk putting your wife in a coma just to be with her?"

He closed his eyes again tight for a moment before looking to Regina. "When Emma does break the curse, you better run far enough away that I will never find you."

Regina clenched her jaw but nodded her head in agreement. "Goodbye, Jefferson."

She left him and Jefferson closed his eyes again, his heart feeling like it was being ripped from his body and crushed by someone's hand. But he was still breathing.

"I just got her back," he whispered to himself.

Keep her safe, his conscience urged him. Stay away.

Jefferson sniffled and opened his eyes, walking to his mansion where when he was inside, packed up a bag of his things and grabbed the keys to one of his cars he kept in his garage; one that Rebekah hadn't seen. Jefferson got in the car and drove away from his mansion without glancing back.

He'd stay away from Rebekah. It'd kill him. He'd spiral again. But keeping her alive was worth the pain he'd be inflicting on himself. She'd have her friends and family to get her through this. Hell, she even had Grace. Rebekah would survive the heartbreak.

He just hoped he would too.

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

It had been two years since Regina took her prisoner. Everyday for those two years Rebekah tried to come up with a way to escape -- to get back to her family.

But she was losing hope. Everyday without them, she felt herself slowly dying.

"Oh, my sweet Rebekah."

She closed her eyes, ignoring the voice of a ghost.

It was Regina playing tricks on her, she was sure.

"Really? You're going to ignore our father?"

Rebekah opened her eyes, sitting up from her bed and looking outside her cell.

"Regina, let her out."

Rebekah inhaled sharply and moved off of the bed, running to the cells to a man she thought she'd never see again. "Daddy?" She whispered, grabbing at his hands through the bars. He nodded, smiling with tears in his eyes as he held onto her hands. "How?"

"Daddy, give us a moment, please?" Regina ordered her father.

"No!" Rebekah shouted at her. "Don't!"

Henry Mills sighed and pressed a kiss to Rebekah's fingers before dropping them. "I'm sorry, my love," he told her. "I didn't know."

Rebekah watched as he left, feeling anxiety rise in her chest. "What didn't he know?" She looked to Regina, who smirked in response. "What did you do?" She asked, voice breaking. "How did you free him?"

Regina held out her hand and Jefferson's hat appeared in her palm.

"No," Rebekah breathed out. "No, he wouldn't -- where is he? What have you done to him?!" She screamed. "Where is he, where is Grace ?" She hit the bars on her cell creating a loud vibration that filled the room.

Regina rolled her eyes at her sister's behavior. "Grace is right where your husband left her."

"No." Rebekah shook her head. "He wouldn't leave her."

"Not even if it meant being able to bring her mother back home?"

She inhaled sharply, hand moving to rest on her stomach. "Are...are you letting me go?"

Regina laughed loudly at that. "You are so dense, Rebekah."

Rebekah closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Is he alive?"

"He was when I left him," Regina told Rebekah. "However, I can't promise that Cora kept him alive after her guards brought him to her."

"You wretched bitch!" Rebekah yelled at her sister.

"So dramatic." Regina chuckled.

"I hate you," Rebekah told Regina. "I hate you more than anything -- more than I ever hated mother," she spat out. "You're worse than her! You're a monster and I wish you were dead!"

Regina glared at Rebekah. "You're lucky I haven't ripped out your heart yet." She tilted her head to look at Rebekah. "But keep speaking to me that way and I will."

"Maybe someday I'll rip out yours," Rebekah threatened her older sister. Regina glared. "I will find a way to free Jefferson and when I do, you better run." She gripped onto the bars. "Because nothing in this world will stop me from killing you."

Regina's jaw clenched and she turned away from her little sister. "Don't make threats you won't follow through with, sweet Rebekah."

"It's not a threat," Rebekah shouted at Regina.

It's a promise, she thought, feeling a darkness inside her that was overwhelming. Rebekah needed to save Jefferson. She just needed to find someone willing to help her.