Once Upon A Time: Remember Me

Three

"Good morning, Amy!" Mary Margaret smiles at me as I walk into her classroom. The kids are outside playing so it's mercifully empty and quiet. "How's the shop?"

"Boring. Quiet. That's not what I wanted to talk to you about," I say. She hands me some paint palettes and I help her squeeze paint onto them.

"What then?" Mary Margaret looks half-concerned and half-happy. Since we became friends- even though it's hard to lie to her- I've never told her about my problems. She calls me reserved, I just don't want to slip up.

"I've got a crush," I say and then go red as she claps her hands together. A crush seems so trivial for what I feel about Jefferson.

"That's wonderful!" She exclaims. "What-who- is your love life about?"

The Mad Hatter. "A guy."

"Details, Amy! Do I know him? Is he handsome? Does he know you like him?"

"I'm not sure if you know him. He lives in Storybrooke. Yes, he's very handsome. And he doesn't and can't know." I finish firmly.

"Why can't he know? And who is he?" Mary Margaret persists. I groan. This was a bad idea. "Fine but don't be some pessimistic. He'll like you back and if he doesn't, it's not true love."

"You believe in true love?"

"Of course I do. Everyone has a soulmate and I think that you'll find yours someday. It's as simple as that."

"It's really not that simple. I...if true love does exist, I lost mine a long time ago. Anything other than the man I loved would be a sham. A fake. It wouldn't be true love." Even if he looks like him. And smiles the same.

"That's very philosophical for eleven in the morning," Mary Margaret smiles sympathetically. "When you're feeling better, call me and we can go for coffee or something. Is that all you came here for?"

"No. I've got some old books in my car for your library. Fairytales and things," I smile. "I'll go get them then I'd better get back to my shop. Have fun. Call me if you meet your true love or something!"

I walk out, wondering where Charming is in all of this madness. They have to meet eventually. If not, I'll personally find him and drag Mary Margaret to him. Anything to get me back home. In Wonderland with my hatter. Maybe we can go to the Enchanted Forest again with Grace. I can be a mother.

I go out to my car, thinking of hats and children running around a house. I open up my car and drag out the box of books. I turn round and bang into someone. "This is becoming a habit, Miss Noble."

"Jefferson!" I jump and a few books drop out of the box. "Damn," I mutter.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you." Jefferson blushes and leans down to pick up the books. He doesn't give them to me but instead inspects the covers. "More fairytales? You seem a fan."

"They're for the school library. I was clearing my stock," I shrug. "And fairy tales are something every kid should read."

"Especially about the Mad Hatter."

"The Mad Hatter was alway my favourite," I laugh, relieved that some of the awkwardness has cleared. I start to slowly walk towards the school and thankfully, he follows, books in hand.

"So, Miss Noble-"

"Amy."

"Amy." I like how he says it. My fake name. I remember when he started thawing out in Wonderland. I remember everything. It's a blessing as well as a curse. "Do you often frequent this school?"

"Is that your way of asking if I have kids?" I smile.

"Was I that obvious?"

"Yeah, kind of," I grin and he pouts at me, faking dismay.

Then his pout turns into a sexy disarming smirk. "And the answer is?"

"I don't have kids, I'm single, no jealous exes, nothing. My love life is pretty much a black hole."

"You certainly are sucking me in."

There's a moments silence. I stop. Jefferson stops too, still smirking at me. "That was the crappiest pick up line I have ever heard but kudos for originality," I say. "I swear it's like you have two personalities. Sometimes you're kind and sweet and other times, you're..well..." I motion to him. "Like this."

"Which do you prefer?" Jefferson asks. "I mean, normally I stick to the kind and sweet persona but you seem like the kind of girl who would like my dark side."

"You have a dark side? Oh, that's hilarious," I look at him, straight into his eyes. "I've known great men, beautiful and evil and dark and passionate men, and you don't hold a candle to them, Mr Hatter. You're not him and you never will be."

"Again, you're talking crazy."

"I am crazy." I place the books on the desk and walk out of the school. I want to go draw.

"No you're not." Jefferson runs after me and grabs my arm. I feel the familiar tingle and feel like grabbing his face and kissing him. "You're not crazy."

"Haven't you heard? We're all mad here," I reply and walk away.

Jefferson looks at me, settling the top hat down on his workspace. "Go away, girl," he snaps.

"Calling me girl is getting old now, Jefferson. It's Scarlet."

He shakes his head at me. "Don't call me Jefferson. Call me...Hatter. Jefferson is too painful. I'm not him." He walks away.

I walk after him and grab his arm, turning him towards me. I grab his face and force him to look at me. "You are him, Jefferson. I promise you are still Jefferson." I soften but don't release my grip on his face as I lean towards him. He blinks at me but I just brush my lips against his cheek. "Remember who you are and you'll always be happy." I add quietly.

"I will remember you too." Jefferson replies and he rests his forehead on mine. Our noses touch and our lips are almost touching. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around him in desperation; his hands linger on my neck then settle on my lower back. I need a friend. I need Jefferson. He doesn't kiss me but we stay in this strange embrace for a minute or two. Finally he speaks up again. "We'll always remember each other. It's destiny, Scarlet."