Chapter 37: An Apple as Red as Blood
Henry trekked out to the bus and dug in his bag. He decided he would re-read some of the stories and search for more clues about breaking the curse. He didn't know if it would do any good though. But he took what Miss Blanchard told him earlier to heart. And if his grandmother could somehow maintain a sense of hope, even with a very bad man continuing to wrong her, then he felt he needed to do the same. As he dug through his bag though, panic settled in his stomach when he couldn't find the book.
"It's gone..." he uttered. But that didn't make any sense. The only time his bag was left unattended was...recess. It had been in the classroom earlier and Miss Blanchard had been on recess duty. With that realization, Henry dashed away, forgetting the bus and set out on the streets. He had to find Emma. Only she could help him find him book.
Jefferson was barely through his tirade when the doorbell rang again. And the person on his doorstep only made his rage go through the roof.
" . ..." he bit out through clenched teeth. Regina smirked in satisfaction.
"What's the matter, Jefferson? Aren't you having a good day?" she goaded, as she invited herself in.
"You're not welcome here! Leave!" he shouted, as she looked around in disgust.
"Ugh...this place is a disaster. This would be no environment for a child," she stated.
"Well...thanks to you, I don't really have that problem," he retorted. She smirked and turned.
"But I could make it your problem...if you help me with my little problem," Regina replied.
"No way...I'll never make a deal with you. Do I have idiot stamped on my forehead?" he growled. She snorted.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" she retorted, as she took a seat in his chair and crossed her legs.
"Come...let's have a chat about what you're going to do for me in order to get your daughter back," she stated.
"I told you...I'm not helping you!" he shouted.
"Oh, but only I can give you what you want. Do you really think that idiot prince and his daughter can get your daughter back?" she asked.
Jefferson put his head in his hands, trying to control his rage and the desperation he felt.
"All you have to do is one little thing for me...and Grace is yours. I can make this little restraining order disappear like it never existed. Can your idiot friend Charming do that?" she tempted, as he looked up at her, eyes red and face contorted with conflict.
"He's my friend..." Jefferson croaked. She snorted derisively.
"Please...you don't have friends and even if you did, you'd never put a friend above your daughter, would you? Do you really think Charming would put you above his precious Snow or Emma?" she questioned, enjoying watching the Hatter unravel before her eyes.
"You...you know he's awake, don't you?" Jefferson asked in surprise. Regina's grin widened.
"I suspected...but wasn't sure. Thank you for clarifying that fact. Not that it matters. The idiot plans to confront Tromera today and I doubt he'll be surviving that little encounter," she said. Jefferson's mouth dropped open and he eyed his phone.
"Picking up that phone will ensure Grace is lost to you forever," she warned. He glared murderously at her.
"What do you want me to do?" he growled. She smirked.
"Come with me to my vault. There is something I need..." she hissed.
"My hat doesn't work," he warned. But she only smirked and opened her trunk, as they walked out to her car. Inside, Jefferson saw a hat box and she opened it.
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Dreaming Out Loud
Fanfiction"If you could have heard our voices, would it have made a difference?" Based on Snow's comment to Emma in season 5. What if Emma had been able to hear her parent's voices? What if she'd been able to see them in her dreams every night? How would thin...
