Once upon a time, an evil queen banished every storybook character you've ever known to our world. Who knows the truth and who can break the spell?
Mary Margaret was on the run and was trying to find any evidence that she didn't kill Kathryn Nolan. She didn't know how she was going to do that but she would and she wouldn't stop until she could prove to everyone that she wouldn't do this at all. She's not that kind of person, she wouldn't kill another human being. She wouldn't hurt an animal.
She was running through the forest, panting hard and she ran to the tree and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. She looked back, trying to see if anyone was following her but she didn't see or hear anything. Then she turned back, taking a deep breath and she took off running once again and not looking back.
Henry was sitting in a chair—in the police station—with his Once Upon A Time book in his lap as he looked down at the page of a little girl and his face was scrunched up and confused.
Emma was walking down the hall of the station—Mr. Gold behind her—and her eyebrows scrunched up on wondering why Henry was here. "Henry?" she questioned and Henry looked up and over at Emma. "What are you doing here?" she stood next to him.
He closed the book with a smile. "I came to congratulate you," he said.
"For what?" she asked.
"Your genius plan," he went on.
Emma crossed her arms over her chest, still confused about what Henry was talking about.
"And what plan is that, Henry?" Mr. Gold asked.
Henry looked over at Mr. Gold, blinking, then closed his mouth. His lips were tight. He glanced down at his lap.
"Right," Mr. Gold whispered then he walked away from Emma and Henry.
Emma looked at Henry then at Mr. Gold and back at Henry again.
Henry looked up at Emma and then leaned forward a bit. "Sorry. I thought Mr. Gold was in on it, now that he's Ms. Blanchard's lawyer," he explained.
"In on what?" Emma asked, even more confused.
"The escape plan," he finally said.
"The what?"
"Sheriff, could you join me, please?" called out Mr. Gold.
Emma glanced down the hall then she and Henry were behind her as they came into the place where the cells and the desks were, Mr. Gold was standing a few feet away from the open cell door where Mary Margaret was being kept.
"She's gone," Mr. Gold said, not turning around.
Emma walked toward the cell. "Henry, what did you do?" her voice hard.
"Nothing. She was gone when I got here," Henry said, holding up his hands.
"Her arraignment's tomorrow. If she's not there...," Mr. Gold started to say.
"She's a fugitive," Emma said finished. "Doesn't matter if she's convicted for Kathryn or not, she's screwed." She turned to look at them both. "I have to go find her before someone notices she's missing." She walked past them and into her office.
"You mean Regina?" Mr. Gold asked.
"The arraignment's at 8:00 a.m. I'm sure she'll be here bright and early to celebrate her victory," she called out to Mr. Gold as she took out her gun and handcuffs from the desk drawer.
Mr. Gold and Henry turned to look at Emma. "Well, you have until 8:00 a.m., then," Mr. Gold murmured.
"What about me? How can I help?" Henry asked.
"Go home," Emma said as she walked out and put the gun and handcuffs on her belt, standing a few feet away from them both.
"Emma, if she leaves Storybrooke...," Henry stood close to her as he whispered.
"Not now Henry, come on," Emma took his arm, turned him around, and pushed him down the hall.
"Ms. Swan, I know time is of the essence," Mr. Gold called out to Emma before she turned around to look at him, "but if Ms. Blanchard doesn't return, her future is in jeopardy. And if you're caught helping her, so is yours."
"I don't care. I'd rather lose my job than my friend," Emma said, turning her back on Mr. Gold and walking down the hall and out of the police station.
Mr. Gold watched Emma leave and smirked to himself at the comment she made. He turned to look at the empty cell.
Emma got into her yellow bug, slammed the car door closed, and backed out of the sheriff's spot in the parking lot. She drove down the road, looking for Mary Margaret but it was foggy, and could barely see out of her windshield, she squinted her eyes as she looked into the forest and then to the other side of the forest. Then she saw a figure of a man on the road and she swerved out of the way, avoiding hitting him with a car. And the figure moved out of the way and tumbled down the hill and Emma parked on the side of the car and got out of the car.
The guy had walked back up the hill while Emma ran to him and said, "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" She helped him up the rest of the way. "I didn't see you."
"I think so," said the man, chuckling.
"Are you sure?" she asked, making their way to the side of the road.
"I'm fine," he replied. "I'm not used to sharing the road with cars so late. You're the Sheriff, aren't you?"
"Yeah," she breathed out.
"What brings you out here in the middle of the night?" he asked, curious.
"Nothing to worry about. I'm just looking for a lost dog," she lied.
"I hope you find it," he said with a smile.
"Thank you."
The man turned around and started walking away from Emma, but he was limping and Emma noticed it.
"You are hurt," Emma called out to him.
He turned around to look at her then looked at his ankle. "No, I just twisted my ankle, I think," he said, chuckling. "I live just a mile down the road." He nodded his head down the road. "I'll make it okay."
"No, let me drive you. I insist."
He chuckled in disbelief and looked at Emma with a smile. "Thank you. I'm Jefferson," he introduces himself, holding out his hand and shaking her hand.
"Emma," she said with a smile, shaking his hand in return.
Emma and Jefferson walked back to her car, and once Emma's back was turned...he wasn't limping anymore. He opened the passenger door and climbed into the car.
A man in a burned orange cloak was running in the Enchanted Forest trying to hide away, up a small hill and he hid behind a large oak tree. He peeked behind the tree, to see if someone saw him go behind the tree. He leaned against the tree and exhaled deeply.
"Papa, I found you," said a small girl with blonde hair and she was wearing a light blue dress with small colorful flowers on it. She smiled at her father and walked up to him with a basket in her hand.
A smile came to his lips and nodded. "You certainly did," he said. "You must be part bloodhound, my dear Grace." He leaned down and took her hand, helping her up the small hill.
Grace giggled. "Now it's my turn to hide and you seek," she said happily.
He got down on one knee, fixed her shawl, and sighed. "I'm afraid playtime is over. Though you can still use that nose of yours, to hunt mushrooms." He poked her nose playfully. "Enough to sell at market tomorrow. You think you can do that?" he asked.
Grace nodded her head with a smile. She always did what her father told her to do. He was an amazing dad to her and was glad that it was him.
He got up and took Grace's hand and pulled her along with a smile. "Ready or not, here we come," he said playfully.
Grace was laughing and holding onto her father's hand, he stopped when he heard a horse whine. "Wait," he said softly to his daughter.
There was a carriage at the cottage, along with guards. They were both curious about why there was a carriage at their cottage.
Grace looked up at her father and asked, "Who's carriage is that?"
"The Queen's," he answered.
"In our house? Do you know her?" Grace asked, looking up at her father.
He looked down at his daughter and smiled. "Of course not," he answered. "Now, listen carefully, okay? I want you to stay hidden in the woods. Like our game. I'm gonna find out what she's doing here."
Grace listened to his words and then nodded when he finished. She watched him walk toward their cottage with the basket in his hand. When he walked halfway, he looked over his shoulder, grinned at his daughter, and continued walking toward the cottage. And Grace ran back into the Enchanted Forest and she never looked back.
Grace's father walked into the cottage where the Queen was standing in the middle of the room with a stuffed doll in her hands and she turned to look at him. He closed the door gently and his face was hard.
"I'd like to say you look well, Jefferson, but I'd be lying," said Regina. "Poverty doesn't suit you."
Jefferson set the basket on the table. "What are you doing here, Regina?" he asked, unamused.
"I have a job for you," Regina said.
Jefferson took off his burned orange cloak and put it around a chair. "I don't do that anymore," he said.
"Yes, I heard you hung up your hat. Why?" She paused. "Is it because of your sweet daughter, Grace?" Showing him the stuffed doll.
"Because of my work, she lost her mother," explained Jefferson, his arms crossed his chest. "I don't want her to lose her father, too."
"So now you're foraging for fungus?" Regina asked.
Jefferson shrugged with a smirk that came to his lips.
"What kind of future does your daughter have here with you?" she asked, taking small steps toward Jefferson, and he looked down. "Do this one last favor for me"—Jefferson flicked his eyes up at Regina—"and you can give her the life she deserves."
Jefferson walked up to Regina, she was smiling when he walked up to her. "That's why I'm staying. You don't abandon family." He leaned in close to her face. "That's what does deserves. Now, please leave." He walked past her, wanting her to leave so he could spend time with his daughter.
"All I need is your special skills to get me somewhere," said Regina, turning around to face him. Jefferson stopped and turned to look at her. "Somewhere you've been before. Do it and I can change your life."
Jefferson looked at Regina, debating on whether to take the job or not and whether or not to trust her. He took the map from Regina's hands and looked down at the map. "What business could you possibly have there?" he asked, curiously, he looked at Regina with a hard face.
"Something of mine was taken and found its way over there," Regina asked vaguely. "I want it back."
Handing the map back to Regina. "Then find someone else to get it," he said, still unamused.
Regina looked at Jefferson for a few seconds before taking the map from him. "I see. Hard living has strengthened your resolve. Well, I'm sorry I couldn't convince you. But I understand. There's nothing more important than family." She chuckled lowly then turned to face the door and walked toward it while Jefferson watched her. She opened the door, looked over her shoulder, and smiled at Jefferson, she closed the door once she was out.
Jefferson was thinking what if he did take the job? Just one more. Then, he'd be done with those certain jobs. But he didn't want to leave his daughter behind. He cared for her more than anything. Grace was his only family left.
Emma and Jefferson rode up to his house, it was beautiful—and big—it's a mansion with many rooms and windows. She parked under the awning that was near the front doors of his house. They both got out of the car and Emma looked up at the house in awe.
"Wow, this is your house? Looks more like a hotel," Emma commented. Jefferson closed the car door. "You must have a huge family."
Jefferson looked away and looked at the house. "Nope," he said, sucking in his lips for a moment. "It's just me." He glanced back at Emma for a moment then started to walk to the front door.
Emma watched him for a moment, turning off the engine and closing her car door as well. "Here, wait," she called to him, walking around the car and helping him up the stairs.
The fire was crackling and Emma stood in front of it, her hands on the sill of the fireplace. Wanting to get warm.
Jefferson opened a door. "There we go," he said.
Emma turned to face him and him carrying a tray of hot tea, setting it down on the small glass coffee table.
"I thought you might want to warm up for your search. It's cold out there," he said as Emma approached him with a smile on her face. He lifted up the silver teapot and poured it into a white glass tea cup.
"That is kind of you. But I think I should get back to it," Emma said politely.
He stood up and handed her the white teacup. "I know. That's why I brought you this," he said. Emma took the cup from him while he bent down once again, picking up a map that he brought with him. "I'm a bit of an amateur cartographer. Mapping the area is a hobby." He walked over to the piano and opened up the map to Storybrooke while Emma drank the hot tea, she stood next to him looking over the map. "Maybe this will help you track down your dog."
"Wow," Emma sounded impressed, setting the cup down on the piano.
"What's his name?" Jefferson asked.
Emma tried to think of a name. "Spot," she said with a smile, looking over at Jefferson.
He chuckled at the name. "Cute," he muttered.
Emma cleared her throat and then looked at the map. "Well, Route 6 runs the boundary of the forest," she said, tapping at the Route 6 line on the map, then took a sip of her tea and set the cup back down on the piano. "So, if I just follow that, I should be able to..." she started slurring her words as she leaned against the piano.
Jefferson was watching carefully. "Something wrong?" he asked.
Emma took a moment to answer, "I'm just feeling a little..." her eyes fluttered then she started to fall back when Jefferson caught her.
"Let me help you," he said to her, he lifted her arm around his neck and bent down slightly to lift her up on his arms.
Emma started panting heavily. "Dizzy," she muttered.
Jefferson walked over to the coach. "Let's just lie you down here." He laid Emma down on the couch. "There ya go."
Emma groaned, trying to keep her eyes open.
"Let me get you some air." He started walking toward the piano, trying to gather everything off of it.
"Your limp..." Emma said, noticing that he didn't have a limp anymore.
He stopped and looked over at Emma. "Oh," he sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "That." He breathed out a laugh. He turned around to look at Emma then walked toward Emma and stood there, not saying a word.
Emma looked up at Jefferson, her mouth slightly open. Wondering what the hell was going on. Why would Jefferson do this? She didn't understand at all.
"I guess you caught me," he said with little to no emotion.
Emma dropped her empty tea cup onto the floor. "Who you are?" she asked before falling against the couch as she blacked out.
Jefferson smiled when Emma passed out. This was going to be perfect. Now, he has her in his house. Trapped.
A bell tolling in the distance, people milling in the market, trying to sell food or buy it, and people buying things for their families. Jefferson and Grace were at the village, walking around the stands and looking at everything. Grace tugged on her father's hand. "The toy cart!" she said excitedly to her father and ran over to the toy cart. She stood at the cart, picked up a stuffed animal, and looked at it for a moment before Jefferson came over to where his daughter was.
An old, ugly lady stood behind the toy cart. Her skin was yellow, her nose was big and crooked, and her teeth were rotted and yellow. She was wearing a head cap, covering up her white hair and she was wearing ratty old clothes and shoes. She held a bell in her hand and swung it back and forth for a few seconds and shouted, "Come!" to anyone who would listen.
Grace picked up the rabbit after setting the toy down that was in her hands. When her dad finally to her side, he bent down to hear what she had to say. "Wouldn't this make the perfect guest for our tea parties, Papa?" she asked him with a smile on her face. "Can I have him? Please?" She hugged the rabbit as she looked up at him.
Jefferson straightened up and looked at the woman who was behind the toy cart with a soft smile. "Excuse me, how much for the rabbit?" he asked.
"That costs one silver," said the Old Lady.
Jefferson took out his little coin bag, looking for a silver coin, he scoffed to himself and then smiled nervously at the Old Lady. "Would you take it for eight coppers? That's all I have," he explained to her.
"Well, you are a good father," the Old Lady complimented.
He smiled and placed a hand on his daughter's head, nodding.
"Your last coppers for your little girl's happiness, huh?" she asked, chuckling.
Jefferson took out his eight coppers and extended his hand toward the seller. "Thank you," he said.
"Oh, I did not say I accept," said the Old Lady, looking at Jefferson with a straight face. "Alas, I cannot take less than one silver. The economy, you understand?" She grunted.
Grace looked up at her father. "It's okay, Papa. Come on, people are waiting," she said gently, putting the rabbit back on the toy cart.
Jefferson looked down at his daughter, listening to her when she spoke then looked at the Old Lady, his eyes hard. "I will not take no for an answer," he said.
"Papa, please. I don't need it," said Grace, pleading with her father.
Jefferson hesitated for a long moment before putting his coins into her coin pouch, taking his daughter's hand with a frown. "Come on, sweetie," he said, walking away from the toy cart.
The Old Lady has the rabbit clutched in her arm as she limps away from the toy cart, walking past a carriage with a mirror on the back of the door. The mirror turned blue and the Genie's head appeared. "Well, that was awfully cruel," he said to the Old Lady. "You could have at least let the girl have her toy."
"Where's the fun in that? Hmm?" asked the Old Lady. Her face changed into Regina with a smile on her face then back to the Old Lady—who is laughing evilly.
Emma was on the couch—gagged and bound—she groaned as she blinked slowly, looking around. She was still in the same room but without Jefferson. She looked back at the door then she got a red pillow by her mouth and set it over the cup that she dropped earlier. Sitting up, she stomped on the cup and broke it. She looked at the door, making sure that he wasn't going to come through it. Kicking the pillow away and getting down on the floor near the broken glass. She quickly picked up the piece of glass and started rubbing the broken glass on the duct tape, it ripped open pretty easily and yanked the duct tape off of her wrists and legs. She stood up as she untied the bandana, and she looked at the door once again before walking over to a window and trying to push it up to get out. She walked over to the next window and tried it again and this one didn't open either then she checked another one.
All the windows wouldn't open.
At all.
Emma walked over to the telescope and she saw the sign: Storybrooke Sheriff's Department. This was beyond creepy why this man was stalking her. She barely knew the guy and she had never seen him around until tonight. She wondered how long he had been stalking her. She looked confused then she put her right eye on the telescope and placed her hands on it, moving it toward her office. She removed her hands and took a step back from it. Her heart was racing, she was worried about what he was going to do to her.
Then she heard a scraping noise, she turned her head toward the sound. She walked over to the door and hesitantly opened the door a bit, looking into the room as she heard the scraping noise.
She saw Jefferson in the room, standing in the middle of it and he was scraping a pair of metal scissors in his hands.
What the hell is he going to use those for? Emma thought, her face confused and her heart humping even louder. She continued watching him as he turned the scissors over in his hands.
Jefferson has a pair of scissors in his hands and a stuffed rabbit in his hands, and he is cutting the strings on it. He set the rabbit down—he also sat down on the stool—on the tiny table in front of Grace while she was playing a tea party with her father and stuffed rabbit.
"I know it's not the same as what you wanted," said Jefferson.
"I love it, Papa," said Grace with a smile as she looked at the stuffed rabbit. Jefferson smiled in return. "Thank you." Then she poured some invisible tea into a cup while he sighed softly. He watched his daughter play tea party. Grace took a sip of the tea, holding her pinkie up in the air. "Mmm! This is really good. Don't you think so, Mr. Tortoise?" she asked the stuffed turtle. "Papa, do you like your tea?"
"Grace," his voice grew serious, leaning in. "I want you to go to the neighbors for the rest of the day. There's work I have to do."
Grace frowned. "Can't I come with you? I like being with you in the forest."
"I'm not going to the forest, sweetie."
"This has to do with the Queen's visit, doesn't it?" she asked, her father didn't say anything, he just leaned back against the chair. "Whatever she wants you to do, don't do it!"
Jefferson stood up and sighed heavily. "Grace, I have to. I want you to have what you need." He walked over to his daughter and kneeled down and placed his hand on her back.
Grace turned and looked at her father. "All I need is you, Papa. Please stay," she begged him.
"Come here." He picked her up and held her in his arms, hugging her gently. "I know." He walked over to a small cabinet and set her down in front of it. "I'm sorry, baby, I have to go."
"Just promise me you'll come back. You have to promise." Grace watched him take her cape from the hook that was just above the small cabinet.
"Of course," he promised with a smile, putting it on his daughter.
"For our tea party," she said with hope in her voice. "Promise?"
He placed his hands on Grace and looked into her eyes. "I promise. I won't miss it for the world," he promised. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, pulling back as they walked toward the door. He opened the front door and Grace looked at her father.
"Go," he whispered with a smile.
Jefferson quickly pulled up her hood and watched her go to the neighbors—who were by the well, getting some water. He was going to miss her and he wished he didn't have to do this but he needed the money and wanted to make his daughter happy.
Jefferson walked across the room where a chest was, he took off the blanket and unlocked it with a key that he had in his pocket. He opened the lid and took out a box—it was a leather, circle box—and set it in the middle of the room, looking at it.
Was Jefferson really going to help the Queen with another job? What was in the leather box? What was he planning on doing with it?
Jefferson was still sharpening the scissors in the room across, not noticing that Emma was watching. She slipped through the small space and slowly and carefully closed the door. She walked down the hall while he looked at the sharp scissors. The floor creaked beneath Emma's feet and Jefferson stopped what he was doing and looked toward the door.
Emma quickly walked down the hall and went to the next door, she opened it quickly and quietly, closing the door gently. The room was dark and she was hoping that he wouldn't find her in there.
"Emma!" said a muffled voice.
She quickly turned around and her eyes went wide to see who called her name from behind her.
It was Mary Margaret.
Mary Margaret was gagged and bound to a chair, she whimpered against the cloth that was gagging her.
Emma was shocked that she was there. What the hell was going on? Emma thought. Why was Mary Margaret here in Jefferson's house?
Mary Margaret looked at Emma with pleading eyes, tears watered in her eyes.
Emma walked over quickly and kneeled down, taking off the cloth. "What is going on?" she whispered.
"Emma! Thank God!" Mary Margaret whispered back.
"What are you doing here?" Emma asked, undoing the duct tape on her feet.
"I was in the woods trying to get away, when this man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me," she explained. "Why are you here?"
"I'm trying to find you. You escaped, remember?" Emma said, ripping the tape off of Mary Margaret's wrists. She stood up and took a step back from her friend. "How did you get out?"
She looked up at Emma. "There was a key," she whispered. "In my cell, under my pillow. Someone put it there." She stood up from the chair.
"Who?" Emma asked.
"I don't know. I'd like to know just as much as you." She walked closer to Emma—who was near the door.
Emma opened the door, poking her head out a bit to see if Jefferson had come out or was lurking in the hallway. She looked back at Mary Margaret and whispered, "Come on."
They both got out of the room, Mary Margaret covered her mouth, so she wouldn't make any noise. Emma closed the door behind them and walked out from behind her.
All of sudden, a gun clicks from behind them and Jefferson is behind them with a gun in his hand. "I see you found Spot," he said with a grin, poking the gun at Mary Margaret.
Emma sucked in a breath. "I've already called for back-up. They'll be here any second." She was lying but he didn't need to know that.
"You haven't called anybody," he said, seeing straight through her lie. "For the same reason you didn't tell me about her." He was talking about Mary Margaret. "You don't want anybody to know you're here. Which means nobody does." Jefferson looked at Emma and she looked back at him, she couldn't believe that he saw through that. "So now tie her back up."
Emma and Mary Margaret went back to the room where Mary Margaret was being held. She put the duct tape around her ankles and wrists, she was about to put on the gag when Mary Margaret whispered, "Emma."
"It's going to be okay," she whispered back.
Jefferson was watching Emma and Mary Margaret.
Emma stood up and turned to face Jefferson. "Your telescope. You've been watching me. Why?" she asked.
Jefferson took his hand off the door frame and walked into the room with the two women. "I need you to do something," he said. He took her arm and pulled her out of the room.
"Emma!" Mary Margaret's voice was muffled. "Don't hurt her!"
Jefferson looked at her then closed the door behind him with Emma in front of him.
Jefferson was walking down the hall of the Queen's palace with two of the Black Knights behind him and him carrying the leather bag. His face was blank.
The two Black Knights stood back from the entrance of the room where Regina was standing in the middle of the room. Jefferson continued walking in the room and stood a few yards away from Regina.
"Jefferson. So good to see you looking more like yourself." Regina turned to face him with a smile. "I assume you're here because you've considered my offer." She raised an eyebrow at Jefferson.
"I want your guarantee that if I do what you ask, my daughter will want for nothing," said Jefferson.
"You have my word," said Regina.
The two stared at each other for a moment then Regina walked over to Jefferson with a huge smile on her face. "Now, let's open that box of yours and see what it can do," she said bending down slightly.
Jefferson set the leather box down on the ground between him and the Queen. He unlatched it from the side and opened the box, revealing a hold dusty top hat. He pulled it out gently with his fingers on the rim.
Regina started laughing when he pulled out the hat. "I do so like a man who dresses for the occasion," she teased him.
He set the hat a foot away from the leather box and set it on the ground gently. He twisted the hat gently then spun it fast and the hat started spinning faster and faster, he took a step back and held his arm out, gesturing for the Queen to stand back. "Step back," he said, warning her.
After a few seconds, the wind picked up and a purple and black cloud came in around the spinning hat and it went into the purple and black cloud. Jefferson and Regina watched it all unfold, Regina was in awe.
"After you!" Jefferson called out to her.
Regina looked at Jefferson for a moment then smiled, holding out her hand. "Together," she called out.
He looked at her for a moment then sighed heavily and looked at the hole that the hat created. "Hold on!" he called to her.
They both jumped into the hole together. Off to a place where Queen Regina needed to go. And where is it you may ask? It's a place full of adventure. Full of surprises.
Jefferson dragged Emma down a long hallway of his house, he opened the door and pushed her into a room full of hats. Identical hats were on the shelves and light beneath glowed.
Emma grunted while stumbling into the room. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but if you hurt my friend, I swear I'll make you regret it," she threatened, facing him.
He closed the door behind him and Emma stepped forward. "Hurt her? I'm saving her life," he said to her, walking closer to her and Emma walking backward.
"How do you figure that?
"Don't play stupid. We both know what happens when people try to leave Storybrooke."
"What are you talking about?"
"The curse."
"What curse?" she asked, playing stupid.
"The one keeping us all trapped. All except you."
"Have you been reading Henry's book?"
"Henry? You mean the Queen's father?" he asked, confused.
"Henry, the Mayor's adopted kid."
"Oh, Henry. Your Henry." Emma sighed. "And his book of stories. The ones that you choose to ignore." Emma's face softened. "Maybe if you knew what I know, you wouldn't."
"Why have you been spying on me?" she asked, trying to find out answers—and also to stall.
Jefferson walked past her and turned, pointing the gun at her for a moment. Emma turned her head to watch him and to listen to him explain. "Because for the last 28 years, I've been stuck in this house. Day after day. Always the same." He stood at the end of a glass table with white wooden legs. "Until one night," he pointed the gun at her and walked around the table, "you and your little yellow Bug roll into town. And the clock ticks. And things start to change." He puts the gun down and Emma faced with a frown. "You see," he closed his eyes for a moment before he continued talking again, "I know what you refuse to acknowledge, Emma." He paused and looked at her while she took a step forward. "You're special. You brought something precious to Storybrooke." He paused again. "Magic."
Emma tried not to think he was crazy but she couldn't help but speak those words to him. "You're insane," she said.
He scoffed and blinked for a moment. "Because I speak the truth?" he asked.
"Because you're talking about magic."
"I'm talking about what I've seen. Perhaps you're the one that's mad." He started walking back around the table.
"Really?" Emma watched him, keeping an eye on him.
"What's crazier than seeing and not believing?" he asked, standing beside her. "Because that's exactly what you've been doing since you got to our little hamlet." He closed the gap between them. "Open your eyes. Look around. Wake up. Isn't it about time?"
They stared at each other for what seemed like forever.
"What do you want?" she whispered.
"I want you to get it to work," he answered. He placed a hand on her shoulder and forced her down onto the chair.
Emma grunted at the forcedness. "You want me to get what to work?" she asked.
There was a hat in front of her that was unfinished, they both looked at it. Jefferson bent down and whispered into her ear, "You're the only one that can do this," he said. He pulled back and placed his chin on top of her head. "You're gonna get it to work."
Jefferson wanted Emma to work her magic on the hat so he could get back to finding his daughter. He didn't have magic here in the real world and he was hoping that Emma could help him. Hoping that he could find his happy ending. With his little Grace.
Jefferson and Regina were in a room filled with colorful doors: there was a red one, a blue one, a green one, a black one, and even an orange one. The floor was a dark blue marble and a gold design that was in an oval pattern on the floor, repeatedly.
"I forgot how magnificent you are," said Regina.
Jefferson looked at the doors, trying to remember which one they were planning on going through. "I'm not here to relive the past, I'm here for my daughter," he said.
Regina sighed.
Jefferson found the door he was looking for and walked over to it, "Here," he said. The Queen followed him to the door. It was a mirror to another place. "This is the entrance." Regina walked closer to the mirror. "It's important that we stick together. The same amount of people that go through have to come back. No more, no less. it's the hat's rule, not mine."
Regina ran her fingers through the golden rim of the mirror. "I understand," she said.
Jefferson lifted up his hand and pushed his fingers through the mirror and then walked through the mirror while Regina watched. Regina took a breath and then walked through the mirror as well, standing behind Jefferson.
This place was beautiful—strange but beautiful. Birds were chirping and the grass was taller than they were, the mushrooms were bigger and taller than they were and the clouds were a baby blue color. Jefferson smirked to himself as he and the Queen walked down the yellow brick road—Regina had to hold up her dress while she walked.
Regina looked around in amazement and Jefferson stopped by the huge mushroom while a big caterpillar woke up and walked around in a circle while Regina gasped in fascination.
When the caterpillar turned to face the two humans, he was smoking a pipe, he was also wearing dark, circle sunglasses and a red hat. "Who are you?" he asked while the smoke made an O, smacking Jefferson in the face. "Who?" he asked again. "Who?"
Jefferson closed his eyes for a moment then looked down while he opened his eyes. "I hate Wonderland," he said.
He took Regina's hand and walked down the path while Regina looked back at the caterpillar—still amazed.
Emma looked in front of her, it was a bunch of different size of scissors in front of her and items to make a hat—just like all the rest behind her.
Jefferson had brought back some fabric for Emma to make the hat. "Make one like that," he said, pointing to the hat next to her.
She looked over at the hat that was on the table, her eyes wide and confused. Why does he want her to make a hat for him? He has tons of them behind her. He definitely is insane, Emma thought. "You want me to make a hat? You don't have enough?" she asked, picking up the fabric.
"Well, none of them work, do they? Or else you wouldn't be here." Jefferson came around the table, opposite from her, and sat down in another chair. "Now make a hat and get it to work."
She picked up the fabric and then a pair of scissors, looking at it. "I don't..." she started to say.
"You have magic. You can do it."
She looked over and noticed the teapot and cups at the far end of the room, near the door. She looked over her shoulder at the hat then she realized who he was. "The hats, the tea, your psychotic behavior. You think you're the Mad Hatter."
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "My name is Jefferson," he corrected her.
"Okay," she set the fabric and scissors down on the table, "you've clearly glommed onto my kid Henry's thing. They're just stories. The Mad Hatter is in Alice in Wonderland. A book. A book I actually read!"
"Stories." He scoffed. "Stories?" he repeated but it was a question. "What's a story?" He asked her. "When you were in high school, did you learn about the Civil War?"
"Yeah, of course."
"How? Did you read about it, perchance, in a book? How is that any less real than any other book?"
Emma sighed and placed a hand on her forehead. "History books are based on history."
"And story books are based on what? Imagination? Where does that come from? It has to come from somewhere." He paused for a moment then he lifted up the gun and pointed it at her. "You know what the issue is with this world?" he asked. "Everyone wants a magical solution for their problem, and everyone refuses to believe in magic. Now get it to work." He pointed the gun back at her.
She picked up the fabric and scissors and leaned forward on the table. "Here's the thing, Jefferson. This is it. This is the real world."
"A real world." He corrected her, standing up and placing his hands on the table, and leaned forward. "How arrogant are you to think yours is the only one? There are infinite more. You have to open your mind. They touch one another. Pressing up in a long line of land. Each is just as real as the last. All have their own rules. Some have magic. Some don't. And some need magic." He stood up straight. "Like this one." He picked up a pair of scissors and pointed it at her. "And that's where you come in. You and your friend are not leaving here until you make my hat. Until you get it to work." He set it back on the table in front of Emma, sitting back down in the chair.
Emma picked up the scissors and the fabric, she started cutting it then she looked up. "And then what?" she asked.
He sighed as she continued cutting the fabric. "Then I go home," he answered.
All Jefferson wanted was to go home. That's all he ever thought about—besides his daughter, of course. He wanted nothing else but to be where he knew that he felt comfortable again. That's all he ever knew.
Regina and Jefferson stood at the entrance, the hedge of the entrance was heart-shaped, along with a glowing red heart just above and two crowns on either side of the hedge. "You want to go in there?" Jefferson asked while Regina placed her hands on her hips, staring at the longest maze that was ever made in Wonderland.
"What I want is a short walk-through," said the Queen.
"A short walk? You know who this belongs to."
They both faced each other, eyes narrowing at one another then looked at the red heart. "The Queen of Hearts. She's not one for subtlety," she muttered as she looked away.
"This wasn't part of our deal. You know what she does to anyone that crosses her?"
"Indeed. Better than most."
Jefferson turned his back while the Queen walked through the maze with determination in her step. He turned back to face her and she stopped short, turning to face him. "You can't leave Wonderland without me," she reminded him. "Two go through. Two go back." Jefferson still didn't move, arms crossed over his chest. "You're not gonna let the Queen of Hearts keep you from returning to your daughter, are you?"
He stood there for a moment, remembering that he had to get back to his daughter. And he did make a deal with her. He couldn't go back without her. He didn't want to go. The Queen of Hearts was a cruel woman and he didn't like dealing with her. Even more so than the Queen.
He uncrossed his arms and sighed irritably.
Regina turned her back to him. "That's what I thought," she said.
She started walking down the path away before Jefferson took her arm. "Wait," he said. He picked up a branch and threw it at the hedges, the hedges ate the branch. "Stay away from the walls."
"I've got a better idea. The walls should stay away from me," she said, baring her teeth. She threw her arm toward the hedges and fire went down the middle.
Jefferson smiled to himself as they both walked down the middle until there were orange and gray tiles and marble staircases and trees were upwards and sideways. They were coming up to a small building that was made out of marble and the top was golden and circular with a red heart on the top of it.
Jefferson released her arm and Regina lifted her hand and flicked her wrist, opening up the building. It opened and the Queen lifted up her dress as she walked inside quickly. Looking at the bronze boxes that were inside while Jefferson stood outside, keeping an eye out for the guards or the Queen of Hearts.
Regina lifted her hand, and a bronze box came out toward her, a smile came to her lips as she carefully out a box and walked out of the building.
His eyes widened, nervous about getting caught. "Okay? You got what you need? Shall we?" he asked.
She quickly walked down the steps and he held her arm once again. But, then, a few guards came out of the maze, yelling: "Trespassers! Halt!"
Jefferson and Regina quickly turned around and walked to the right of the building and down a path while the guards chased them. They went to the right and one of the maze's entrances closed up then they went to the left. Two guards were there, and one of them said, "Halt!" Then the two turned around quickly and another two guards came behind them.
Regina lifted her hand, flickering her wrist, making them fly into the hedges and the hedges sucked them into the unknown. Jefferson pushed the other guards away from them while Regina walked away and watched the whole thing. Another guard went into the hedges and the hedges grabbed him, sucking him in.
They both ran back to where they came from and down the middle of the maze, Regina still had the box in her arms.
Two guards followed them and one guard yelled: "Stop!" And the other one told them, "Don't let them get away!"
Regina and Jefferson were at the start of the maze and they turned to face the guards, Regina lifted up her hand and flicked her wrist once more, closing the hedges and the spears stuck out of the hedge. She laughed—mostly to herself.
They were getting close to the portal, their heartbeats and breathing slowed down but they were still walking quickly.
"The Looking Glass, there it is! Come...," said Jefferson while he ran toward it but then stopped when he noticed that Regina stopped, looking back down the path. "What are you doing? We can't stop now. We got to get out of here." He walked toward her, reaching his arm out toward her.
"There's something I need to do first," said Regina, bending down and pulling a small piece of food out of the tall grass. "A little snack." She looked at it and walked past Jefferson.
"Are you mad? Do you know what the food here does?" he asked, following her.
"I'm well aware," she answered. She set the box down on the ground, just a few feet away from The Looking Glass. She lifted up the lid of the box, setting the piece of food inside the box then she stood back quickly as purple smoke came out of the box.
And appeared Henry.
Regina's father.
Regina's father smiled at her, happy to be out of the box and to be full-size again. Grateful that she finally got him out of the box and out of Wonderland.
Jefferson's eyes widen at what happened. And also confusion.
Regina ran to her father. "Daddy!" she cried out and hugged him.
"This is what she took from you? Your father?" Jefferson asked, eyes narrowing at them.
Regina turned to look at him. "The Queen of Hearts has always seen me as a threat," her voice hard. Men were shouting in the distance. "So she wanted some leverage. I got it back."
"The Queen's soldiers. We must hurry," said Regina's father, tugging on her arm.
"You knew only two can go through the hat," said Jefferson, he scoffed.
Regina and Henry turned to look at him, Regina knew it but she just needed him to help find her father. Jefferson was just her leverage.
"Which is why you didn't tell me about your father," he said, scoffing again as he closed his eyes for a few seconds.
"It was the only way to make sure you would help me," said Regina.
Jefferson was about to lunge forward when Regina flicked her wrist at him, making his feet stick to the yellow bricks.
"Wait, wait! Wait! Please!" Jefferson called out to Regina as they turned back to the Looking Glass. Regina didn't look back at him. "My daughter. My Grace. She's waiting for me. I'd promised her I'd be home for tea." Tears were in her eyes.
Regina quickly turned around too fast Jefferson. "A promise which you now have broken," she yelled at him. She released her father's hand and walked up to Jefferson. "If you truly cared for your daughter, you never would have left her in the first place." They stared at each other—Jefferson looked hurt and angry and Regina's face hardened. She walked back to her father while looking at a helpless Jefferson. "You were right, Jefferson. You don't abandon family." She turned her back to him and she and her father walked through the Looking Glass.
Jefferson watched for a moment, still not believing all of this. She couldn't do this to him. Not after he helped her. "No!" he screamed at them but they didn't flinch or stop, they kept walking through the Looking Glass. "No!" he whispered, still staring at the Looking Glass.
Footsteps approached Jefferson, his face was blank as he continued looking at the Looking Glass, a man—an older man—was wearing a red coat with white fur across the collar with black dots, along with a leather red hat; and a few guards were right behind him. He looked at Jefferson for a moment then clapped his hands together, "Take him to the Queen," he said. Then two of the guards lifted up Jefferson's arms and tugged him down the path to the Queen while the guy and the other guards walked in front of them.
The two guards and Jefferson walked down a long and narrow path and on both sides was just empty space, there were tall, stone guards and a long gold rod in front of the stone guards along with white flags with gold trim and a heart in the middle of the flags. Nobody talked while they walked down the path, a few men and women—they were wearing half masks—were on either side of the Queen of Hearts throne. They stopped a few feet away from the Queen of Hearts and she was wearing a red gown and a red veil with a gold crown with red heart diamonds.
One guard walked off and joined the other men and women on the side and the other guard stood behind Jefferson still. Jefferson watched carefully for a moment.
The Queen of Hearts whispered into a small wooden instrument into the Knave of Hearts, he pulled back once she was done and looked at Jefferson. "Her Majesty says she knows you are responsible for helping to steal from her," said the Knave of Hearts.
"The Queen, she tricked me...," Jefferson started to speak, then the people gasped.
"That woman's name is Regina," said the Knave of Hearts. "There is only one Queen. The Queen of Hearts." He pointed to the rightful Queen.
"Yes. Of course. My apologies. Now, please...," said Jefferson, bowing slightly.
The Queen of Hearts started whispering into the wooden instrument again.
"Her Majesty wishes to know how you got to this world," said the Knaves of Hearts. "How did you come to Wonderland?"
"If I tell you, will you let me go home to my daughter?" asked Jefferson.
The Knaves of Hearts laughed in his face, shaking his head at the idea of that question, and thought that he could go home. There is no escaping Wonderland.
"Off with his head," the Queen of Hearts whispered but it echoed for Jefferson—and everyone—to hear.
One guard with an axe came out of the line and started walking toward Jefferson.
Jefferson's eyes widen, watching the guard. "No," he whispered as he just stood there watching.
The guard lifted up his axe and swung, slicing Jefferson's head off as the other guard that stood near him held onto his head while Jefferson's body hit the ground with a loud thud. His eyes blinked and looked from side to side, gasping. "I'm alive," he whispered to himself. He stared down at his body and yelled, "I'm alive!" in terror.
"If you wish your body back, then answer," said the Knave of Hearts. "How did you get here?" he asked again.
"The hat. My hat. We used my hat," Jefferson answered.
"Where is the hat now?"
"She took it. Regina."
"If all you require to travel to your homeland is this magic hat, then surely you can make another?"
"I can't. A hat without magic is just a hat. It won't work."
"Then there's your task. Get it to work."
Jefferson looked at the Knave of Hearts and the Queen of Hearts and his lip was quivering. He didn't even know if the hat was going to work or not but he was going to die trying. He wanted nothing more than to return to his homeland and be with his Grace again. He would hope that it would work. Hoping that he could get out of there. Hoping that he could make his magic hat. And hoping to see his daughter again.
Jefferson watched Emma make a hat and Emma slammed the hat down on the table, feeling irritated. "I can't make it work! What you're asking me is impossible," said Emma, standing up.
Jefferson hit his head on a cushion gently then he took the hat from the table and stood up as well. "No. It has to be. If it's not, I'm never going home." He sighed. "I'll be cursed to live in this house forever." He looked at the hat and then tossed it back on the table.
"What is so cursed about your life?" she asked. "Look at this place. It's beautiful. Doesn't seem cursed to me."
He walked over to another telescope and sniffled. "It's cursed because like everyone else here, what I love has been ripped from me," he said, turning to face Emma. "Take a look."
Emma looked at him for a moment then she walked over to the telescope, bending down and closing one eye, and saw a little girl with a whole new family. The little girl was Jefferson's daughter, Grace. She pulled back and looked at Jefferson.
"Her name is Grace. Here it's Paige. But it's Grace. My Grace," Jefferson explained. "Do you have any idea what it's like to watch her, day in and day out? Happy. With a new family. With a new father."
"You think she's your daughter?"
He pointed a finger at her and she flinched. "I don't think. I know," he whispered. "I remember."
Emma nodded and watched him walk away, leaning against the table.
"She has no idea who I am. Our life together, where we come from." He sucked in his breath. "I do." He breathed out and smiled sadly. "That's my curse."
"To remember."
"What good is this house, these things, if I can't share them with her?"
Emma walked up to him. "If you really think she's your daughter, why don't you reach out to her? Why don't you tell her?" she asked.
Jefferson stood up, narrowing his eyes at her. "And destroy her reality?" he asked. "I'm trapped by knowledge. How cruel do you think I am? You think I'd inflict that awareness on my daughter?" He paused. "It's hard enough to live in a land where you don't belong. But knowing it? Holding conflicting realities in your head will drive you mad."
"That's why you want me to make the hat work, isn't it?" she asked. "You just want to take Grace home to your world."
He looked at her, a lump in his throat. He swallowed the lump down, trying not to be too emotional. "It's the one world where we can be together," he said. "Where she'll remember who I am."
"I know what it's like to be separated from your kid." She walked back over to the telescope and looked through it, watching Grace.
"Yeah, you do, don't you?" he asked, walking over to her.
"It can make you feel like you're losing your mind."
"I'm not losing my mind. I'm not crazy. This is real."
Emma stood up straight and looked at Jefferson. "Maybe. Maybe it is."
"You believe?" he asked.
"If what you say is true, that woman in the other room is my mother. And I want to believe that more than anything in the world. So maybe you're right." Emma started tearing up. "Maybe I need to open myself up more. Maybe if I want magic, I have to start believing."
He looked down and sighed gently, looking at her. "So, you gonna help me?" he asked her. "You can get it to work?"
A small smile played on her lips. "I can try," she whispered the answer.
He smiled and turned to walk away as he grabbed the supplies from the table while Emma picked up the telescope and hit Jefferson in the head. He fell down on the floor.
"Crazy son of a bitch!" she said, taking the gun from the back of Jefferson. She ran out of the room and down the hall and into the room on the opposite side, opening the door.
"Emma!" said Mary Margaret said through the gag.
"It's all right," said Emma, reassuring her friend. She quickly took off the gag. "I'm gonna get you out of here. You're gonna be okay. He can't hurt you anymore."
"Emma, look out!" yelled Mary Margaret.
Emma turned around when she held the gun toward him and just when Jefferson tackled her and Mary Margaret down onto the floor, the gun lay far from the three of them. She crawled toward the gun but Jefferson grabbed her by the ankles and yanked her away from the gun.
Jefferson climbed on top of her and yanked her by her hair as she tried to go for the gun again and yelped in pain.
Emma hit him as he fell back while Mary Margaret was struggling to get out of the duct tape, she tugged on the tape on the wrist and she got loose. Emma pushed Jefferson's head while pulling down his shirt and revealing a scar across his neck.
Jefferson picked her up from her tank top while Mary Margaret tried to hurry up and help Emma. He threw Emma into a dresser, they were both panting heavily. He picked up the gun and pointed it towards Emma then he picked up his hat and put it on his head, smiling at Emma.
"Off with his head," he said softly.
Emma looked at Jefferson with wide eyes, scared, terrified. Her heart was hammering against her chest. Just for a moment, she thought she was going to die at the hands of a madman. She would never see Henry again. She would never see her friends again.
Mary Margaret found a croquet mantlet, she sneaked up behind him and hit him in the head. He fell grunts and he turned to face her. She lifted up her leg and kicked him. He fell backward and into the window, him falling out of it. Glass shattered in and out of the house.
Thud.
His body hit the ground.
Mary Margaret looked over at Emma, breathing heavily. "You okay?" she asked, placing a hand on her arm.
"Yeah," she breathed out.
The two women walked over to the window and looked down it. But there was nobody. Only his hat and the broken glass. They were both confused about how he could have survived the fall. Where would he go? How in the hell did he survive that fall?
Mary Margaret and Emma were out of the house and to where the glass had shattered and where the hat lay. They both looked at the hat and Mary Margaret picked up the hat, looking around to see if she could find Jefferson.
"There's no sign of him anywhere," said Emma.
"Who was he?" asked Mary Margaret.
"A very lonely man." Emma took the hat from the other woman. "By the way, have you been taking kickboxing and not telling me about it?"
"I have no idea where that came from." Mary Margaret walked down between the two houses while Emma followed behind her. "Emma, look."
Emma walked past her and took the tarp off of her yellow bug, she sighed in relief. Opening up the car door, she found her keys on the seat. She threw the hat onto the passenger seat. Mary Margaret was standing in front of the gate and looked back to look at Emma as she held up her keys on her index finger. She closed the door and walked over to her friend, her face softened.
"So, Sheriff, I guess you'll be taking me back now," said Mary Margaret.
Emma looked at her for a moment then looked back at her car then back at her friend. "Here, go." She tossed her car keys to Mary Margaret.
"You want me to run?" she asked.
"No. But it's your choice. Just know something, running ain't easy. I've done my share of it. And once you go, there's no stopping."
"Emma, everyone thinks I killed Kathryn."
"Mary Margaret, you have to believe me, you have to trust me. I know it seems impossible, but I can get you out of this."
"Why is it so important to you what happens to me?"
"Because when Regina framed me, and you bailed me out I asked you why and you said you trusted me. And then when I wanted to leave Storybrooke 'cause I thought it was best for Henry, you told me I needed to stay because that was best for him. And I realized all my life I have been alone. Walls up. Nobody's ever been there for me except for you. And I can't lose that, I cannot lose my family." Emma said she tears up once again.
A smile came to Mary Margaret's face, realizing that Emma called her and Henry's family. "Family?" she repeated.
"Friends. Whatever. You know what I mean. Wouldn't you rather face together than alone?" Emma asked gently.
Mary Margaret held out her hand with the keys and Emma took them into hers. They held each other's hands for a moment. Appreciating each other. They were happy that they were in each other life's now. They smiled at each other. Bonding.
The bell tolled loudly, they were far from Storybrooke, and they looked over when the bell tolled.
"The arraignment," said Emma. "Regina."
Regina pulled her black car into the next spot that was where Emma's car was supposed to be but it was empty. She got out of the car and noticed that Emma wasn't there. She smiled privately to herself, thinking that she had won. She walked into the police station and once she stepped in, her smile dropped instantly.
Mary Margaret was back in her cell, sitting on her bed while reading a newspaper. She looked over, her face straight. "Madam Mayor," she spoke with an even voice.
Regina smiled lightly. "Good morning," she said gently.
Mr. Gold stood in front of Regina. "Excuse me, but my client is not having any visitors," he said.
"Of course not."
"I'll see you out."
Regina turned her heels and walked right back out of the police station and Mr. Gold walked right behind her. Mary Margaret watched them leave, closing the newspaper slowly.
Regina walked into the hallway and stopped, turning to face Mr. Gold with a scowl on her face. "What is she doing here?" she asked, bitterly.
A hint of a smile came to Mr. Gold's face. "She came back," he answered.
"You said this was going to work. That she'd take the key. That she'd go."
"And she did. But it seems that Ms. Swan is rather more resourceful than we thought. Fear not, Your Majesty, Ms. Blanchard's still guilty of murder. You may yet get what you want."
"Oh, I better," she said, her voice menacingly. "The only reason I made a deal with you, Gold, is because I wanted results."
"And results you shall have. See you at the arraignment."
Regina and Mr. Gold stared at each other. You can feel the tension between the two. After a moment, Regina walked off while Mr. Gold watched her leave as he leaned on his cane.
The school bell rang, and the kids were outside and talking to one another. Emma walked over to Henry with a smile on her face. "Henry," she said, getting his attention. And Henry was sitting on a bench, looking up at Emma as his eyebrows shot up. "Well, I found Mary Margaret." She sat down next to him.
"How is she?" he asked.
"She's okay," she answered. "Other than being on trial for murder, she's fine."
A group of girls came walking by and Paige—Grace—stopped and looked over at Henry. "Hi, Henry," she said with a smile.
Henry smiled back.
"Who is that?"
"Her name is Paige. She goes to school with me."
Emma didn't say anything for a moment as she watched Paige for a moment then looked over at Henry. "Henry, do you have your storybook with you?" she asked. "Can I see it?"
He took his bookbag off of his shoulders and unzipped his bag. "Yeah. Why?" he asked, confused.
"I'm just curious about something."
Henry took out the book and handed it to Emma, she took it and laid it on her lap, and opened it to find a page. Once she found it, it was a picture of Jefferson taking out a hat in the box. Then she turned it to the next page where it was Jefferson and his daughter, Grace. Next page, it was Jefferson with a scar around his neck and a look in his eyes that he was going mad.
"What? What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing," she breathed out.
Jefferson was in a huge room, filled with all kinds of fabric to help him make the hat and get it to work. His eyes were wide, snipping at the fabric. "Get it to work. Get it to work. Get it to work. Get it to work," he muttered to himself, he was getting frustrated. He had all the different hats that he had made, hoping one of them would work. "Get it to work. Get it to work. Get it to work," he repeated while he was slowly going mad in the room full of different colored hats. "Just get it to work. Get it to work. Get it to work. Get it to work." He just kept repeating it over and over, while still making the hats. "Get it to work!" he yelled out into the open room.
He then knew that he would never see his Grace again. His only reason to live. He only wanted her to be in his life again. It's him and her against the world.
Emma was still staring down at the page, in shock. Henry was still next to her on the bench, looking at her confused. "Emma? Emma?" he was trying to get her attention.
She blinked and looked over at Henry, the school bell rang, and all of the students were walking into the school. "I got to go," he said.
"Right," she said, looking over at him. "Can I hold on to this?" she asked.
His eyebrows raised and smiled at her, he realized that Emma was starting to believe in him and his stories. "Absolutely," he said. Then he zipped up his bookbag and ran toward the stairs as Emma watched him go.
She looked down at the same page for a moment then chuckled to herself. She couldn't believe that she was starting to believe in Henry and his stories but she wasn't fully convinced yet. But she was getting there.
Could this all be true? Is Emma starting to believe in Henry? She still didn't understand how all of this could be real. They were just stories. Fantasy. Make believe for children to have hope.