Jefferson smooths down his coat, takes a breath, and knocks on the door.
“I was wondering when you’d get here,” Greta says with a smile. “She never gave up, you know, back home. Waitin’ for you, I mean.”
“I know,” Jefferson murmurs. “May I see her?”
“Of course, Jefferson. Come in.” Greta steps back and turns, calling, “Pa – Grace! You’ve a visitor!”
He hears a shriek, and then rushing footsteps down stairs, and then a whirlwind with dark blonde hair hits him, clinging tight. “Papa!”
“Oh, Grace,” he whispers, “my darling, darling Grace.” He leans back against the wall, holding her, and he thinks, What to do now?
“I’ll give you a moment,” Greta says, vanishing down the hall.
“Papa,” Grace asks, “where have you been? I prayed and wished every night.”
He laughs a little, kissing the top of her head. “That, my dear, is a long story. I think that for now, I should speak with Greta and Frank, see about bringing you home.”
She nods but doesn’t loosen her hold, so he stands back up straight and reaches for a better grip, carrying her further into the house.
.
There are many things he could tell her. She is the age now that he was when his mother died, when he learned how to survive. Thankfully, their neighbors back home were good people and treated her well. Had they not been – but they were. And Regina’s mystifying curse kept them together, giving Grace a good life.
He could tell her of his life before the Dark One came calling. Could tell her of the things he did in the Dark One’s employ and the employ of others, the things he did for fun. Could tell her the truth of her birth, or the countless ages he spent in Wonderland.
Instead, he tells her, “I once had a friend in common with the queen, and he told her of a gift I had. An ability, you could say.” He spins her a tale of magic and wonder, and a trick that saw him trapped in a world from which he could not escape. It is true, all of it, and she cries and hugs him as tight as she can.
She falls asleep still clinging to him. She looks so much like his mother. Jefferson kisses her forehead, gently detaches her, and leaves the door open behind him. In the hallway, there is a mirror. He glares at the man looking back and turns sharply away.
The first time they met, the Dealmaker told him he looked like his father. He’s just glad Grace didn’t receive that curse, as well.
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2/2: Once Upon a Time, AU during season 1
Date: 2015-01-20 03:57 am (UTC)Jefferson smooths down his coat, takes a breath, and knocks on the door.
“I was wondering when you’d get here,” Greta says with a smile. “She never gave up, you know, back home. Waitin’ for you, I mean.”
“I know,” Jefferson murmurs. “May I see her?”
“Of course, Jefferson. Come in.” Greta steps back and turns, calling, “Pa – Grace! You’ve a visitor!”
He hears a shriek, and then rushing footsteps down stairs, and then a whirlwind with dark blonde hair hits him, clinging tight. “Papa!”
“Oh, Grace,” he whispers, “my darling, darling Grace.” He leans back against the wall, holding her, and he thinks, What to do now?
“I’ll give you a moment,” Greta says, vanishing down the hall.
“Papa,” Grace asks, “where have you been? I prayed and wished every night.”
He laughs a little, kissing the top of her head. “That, my dear, is a long story. I think that for now, I should speak with Greta and Frank, see about bringing you home.”
She nods but doesn’t loosen her hold, so he stands back up straight and reaches for a better grip, carrying her further into the house.
.
There are many things he could tell her. She is the age now that he was when his mother died, when he learned how to survive. Thankfully, their neighbors back home were good people and treated her well. Had they not been – but they were. And Regina’s mystifying curse kept them together, giving Grace a good life.
He could tell her of his life before the Dark One came calling. Could tell her of the things he did in the Dark One’s employ and the employ of others, the things he did for fun. Could tell her the truth of her birth, or the countless ages he spent in Wonderland.
Instead, he tells her, “I once had a friend in common with the queen, and he told her of a gift I had. An ability, you could say.” He spins her a tale of magic and wonder, and a trick that saw him trapped in a world from which he could not escape. It is true, all of it, and she cries and hugs him as tight as she can.
She falls asleep still clinging to him. She looks so much like his mother. Jefferson kisses her forehead, gently detaches her, and leaves the door open behind him. In the hallway, there is a mirror. He glares at the man looking back and turns sharply away.
The first time they met, the Dealmaker told him he looked like his father. He’s just glad Grace didn’t receive that curse, as well.