Tricks of the hat

The Scare | Alice, Jefferson, Jack and Grace

Jack’s heart stopped and his mouth hung open. “You certainly don’t beat around the bush,” Jack said with his cocky smile, “Have you tried working out the dates. I mean I’m happy to be a father but it might complicate what ever you and the hatter have going on here.”

Jefferson was about to respond to Jack's comment when he seen something move outside the door. He got up and opened the door to find Grace and her little rabbit eavesdropping. She looked just as startled as he did so he came down to her level. "Grace what did you hear?"

Jack was the first to reply to Alice and the first to meet her at the rented room at Granny’s. He greeted her with a friendly hug and a soft kiss on the cheek but he could tell something was wrong. “What’s wrong?” He asked as he sat on the bed.

Jefferson was next to come into the room, only the moment that he had seen Alice, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly. Then he had noticed Jack sitting on her bed, to which he pulled away from their kiss. "What's he doing here? Alice what's wrong?"

After Tea | Alice and Jefferson

Alice went to move a bit further away from Jefferson, not knowing what to do with him now. “So,” She said awkwardly, “How have you been?” Alice remembered the first time that they were this close. It was just before she had slept with him, and she could never forget that moment now, not now that she knew it was real and that he was her first everything, her first love, her first sexual partner, even her first kiss. 

Jefferson had noticed the sudden movement when Alice had pushed away from him on the sofa. "I've been crazy," Jefferson laughed with Alice joining in, "What about you. I mean with the engagement and all."Jefferson did not know how he felt about the engagement, he and Jack never really got on in Wonderland, in fact he kind of hated him, he was exactly like Cora but hardly anyone could see that.

"Stay!" Jefferson said as she walked through his front door, "I have a bottle of wine?" When she nodded he smiled and gestured to the sofa, to which he gave her a blanket. "I'm putting the fire on but it can still get a bit chilly." He watched her from a far get comfortable on his sofa and it made him smile for a second. He brought in the two glasses and a bottle of red wine and after he placed it on the coffee table, he sat so close to her, that they were both pressed against each other under the blanket.

The tea party | Jefferson, Grace and Alice

“Go and get your pajamas’s on Grace.” Jefferson said with a sad smile. He knew that she had wanted Alice to be a part of the family properly once again but he didn’t know if he could feel the loss of her leaving again, if she ever did. “Your mother can tuck you up in bed?”

Grace stood up and nodded, running upstairs to quickly put on her pajamas. She picked out her favorite ones, with the little white rabbits on them. She grabbed her little rabbit and walked back downstairs, and into the room where her parents were sitting. “Papa, can you and mama tuck me in? And…and tell me a story, too? Please?” She rubbed her eyes and climbed up onto her father’s lap, letting out a small yawn. 

Jefferson hugged his daughter tight till she begged him to let go. As soon as he released his arms, he tickled her sides till she almost fell off his lap. "If you insist," He said picking his daughter up and carrying her up into her bedroom, with Alice by his side.

The tea party | Jefferson, Grace and Alice

“You will understand when your older Grace,” Jefferson said seriously, “We can’t just decide what our feelings are now, but we can remember them for what they were.” Jefferson didn’t want to upset Grace, he was happy being friends with Alice for her sake, but he couldn’t tell if he loved her like he used to.

“Okay, papa…” The child smiled up at him. “The only thing that matters is that I have papa back and that mama isn’t dead! You both came back!” She smiled proudly. “I think we should have tea parties like this all of the time. Papa!” She turned back to face her father, “Can we? Please? And, and maybe next time we can even invite Henry?” She smiled sheepishly up at the man, trying to hide the fact that she had a not so tiny crush on Henry. 

"Go and get your pajamas's on Grace." Jefferson said with a sad smile. He knew that she had wanted Alice to be a part of the family properly once again but he didn't know if he could feel the loss of her leaving again, if she ever did. "Your mother can tuck you up in bed?"

The tea party | Jefferson, Grace and Alice

Alice blushed as she avoided Jefferson’s eyes as Grace brought up her very awkward question. Of course she felt like she loved him but if he still loved her was a completely different story. “I don’t think either of us can answer that Grace. I mean we haven’t seen each other in years.”

Grace sighed quietly, she wondered if her parents would ever get back together? Right now things weren’t looking to hopeful. The child mumbled a small, “Okay…” and continued to sip at her tea. She watched her parents some more, a small pout on her face. She just wished that things could be normal again! But they wouldn’t be, she knew that deep down. 

"You will understand when your older Grace," Jefferson said seriously, "We can't just decide what our feelings are now, but we can remember them for what they were." Jefferson didn't want to upset Grace, he was happy being friends with Alice for her sake, but he couldn't tell if he loved her like he used to.

The tea party | Jefferson, Grace and Alice

Grace gasped loudly, “Whoa…” She couldn’t help but giggle at her mother and father’s interaction. It was a little bit awkward, but still really cute at the same time. “Well, I’m glad that you two fell in love because then you two had me! And I have the best parents in the world and that makes me happy.” She nodded once, very seriously, a big grin on her face. “Are you two still in love? Even though mama had to leave?” She asked quietly, taking another quick sip of her tea. 

Alice blushed as she avoided Jefferson’s eyes as Grace brought up her very awkward question. Of course she felt like she loved him but if he still loved her was a completely different story. “I don’t think either of us can answer that Grace. I mean we haven’t seen each other in years.”

"We can't really say," Jefferson said, looking at Alice's blushing face, "It's been a while." There was a horrible awkward silence at the table. Grace was just sipping her tea, watching both Alice and him intently.  He knew that was Grace's hope was for him and Alice to fall in love all over again, but things were different now. Alice walked out on them, yes she had her reasons but you don't abandon family.

The tea party | Jefferson, Grace and Alice

Alice smiled at Grace and at her ex, he seemed calmer than usual. She sipped on her tea and slowly nibbling on one of the cookies that she had baked just for this tea party. “Jefferson,” Alice smiled, “Do you remember the first tea party that we ever had back in Wonderland?”

Grace watched her parents interact, giggling when her mother asked her father about their first tea party. She assumed that’s when they fell in love. Interjecting, she set her tea cup down. “Mama, papa. Question…” She started, a cheesy grin spreading across her face. “Um, when did you two fall in love? When was your first date? Was it the tea party?”

Alice smiled awkwardly at Jefferson, she didn’t know if he remembered it the same way as she did, or if that was even the moment he fell in love with her. “Well,” She said with a deep breath, “It was just after I finished the battle. I was late for tea and your father hated that. I turned up all bloody and bruised and he patched me back up.”

"I only did that to shut you up," Jefferson laughed, "Grace, your mother was moaning that she had a little cut so I cleaned it and bandaged it up that's all." Jefferson smiled at Alice but he had seen her blush and look down at the table as if to avoid his stare. "I first fell in love with your mother when she brought me back from one of my episodes. All she ever said was one word and that was it. I knew that it was love."

Belle was startled as someone said hello to her and introduced himself as Jefferson. “Oh hello,” she said, smiling. “I’m Belle…oh! You were the one who set me free from the asylum!” Belle recognized his face and knew that he had been the one to free her and tell her to find Mr. Gold.

"Rumple?" Jefferson asked, "Yes I did set you free. It wasn't right that you were held for no reason. I'm pretty sure Rumple hates that thought."

“Jefferson,” Regina said, giving a slight nod to him. “It seems as though they have found another enemy to go after instead of me.”

"And what enemy might that be?" Jefferson said with a twisted smile.

“Yeah I am,” he said feeling a bit strange that now he was referred to as the dead sheriff. “Jefferson right? I’m afraid I’ve never heard of you.”

“My curse was a little different that yours,” Jefferson said gritting his teeth, “I wasn’t able to leave my house.”

Graham couldn’t help but chuckle a little. “Not able to leave your house? Some might say was a blessing not a curse!”

Jefferson was a little anonyed with Graham's laugh. "I still had the two identities and my daughter was living with someone else. I would say that my curse was not a blessing!"

“Yeah I am,” he said feeling a bit strange that now he was referred to as the dead sheriff. “Jefferson right? I’m afraid I’ve never heard of you.”

"My curse was a little different that yours," Jefferson said gritting his teeth, "I wasn't able to leave my house."