Hello, It's Mrs. Hyde

Ch.29: A Quiet Room, A New Beginning

The hospital room was warm with the golden hue of late afternoon sun bleeding through the windows. Jessica sat upright in the bed, her shoulder wrapped and freshly bandaged, a soft navy blanket pulled across her lap. The pain was dull now—more of a persistent throb than the stabbing agony from earlier—and for the first time in days, she felt calm. Not just physically. Emotionally. She felt... steady.
Across from her, Hyde sat in the visitor's chair, ankle resting on one knee, his coat slung behind the chair, sleeves rolled up. A deck of cards lay between them. Rummy. Jessica had insisted they play to pass the time. She was sipping on a box of apple juice, a faint smirk on her lips as she plucked a card from the pile and set down a three-of-a-kind
Hyde raised a brow, eyeing the card in mock suspicion. "Rummy," she said with a cheeky grin.
He sighed, setting down his own hand. "You've hustled me. Again."
"You're easy to read," she said, sipping her juice through the little plastic straw with a smirk. "Also, I always win."
"You say that like I haven't let you win since the morphine kicked in."
"You say that like I'm on morphine." She raised a brow. "I'm not."
Hyde's lips twitched, but before he could deliver his usual dry retort, the door creaked open and in swept Emma, followed closely by Killian, Belle, Regina, and the Charmings, all filing in with relieved expressions.
"Aunt Jess!"
Before Jessica could brace herself, a blur of dark curls and excitement leapt into her arms.
"Gracie—oof!" she gasped, stifling a laugh and a grimace as her niece hugged her tightly.
"Gracie, easy!" Jefferson scolded, stepping in behind her.
Jessica grunted, adjusting Gracie gently to her good side. "I'm okay. I've survived worse. But you nearly gave me a second injury."
Gracie giggled and hugged her again, more carefully this time. Hyde, watching from his seat, felt something deep in his chest swell. He couldn't look away from the way Jessica's entire face lit up at her niece's presence—the way she softened, the natural ease in her embrace, the way she comforted and guided with nothing more than a glance. And for the first time in a long, long time, he thought of the future. Of a home. Of children. Of something that didn't end in destruction.
Jefferson stepped forward and bent down to hug his sister gently, his eyes betraying a rare moment of vulnerability. "I told you not to walk into a trap, now look at you. You scared the hell out of me, Jess."
"I scared myself,I'm sorry Jeff. You were right I should of brought backup" she admitted softly.
Jefferson smirked with raised brows
"Can you say that again? I just wanna hear one more time that you admit I was right about something"
Jessica rolled her eyes with a smirk
"Oh shove off. Take the win it's not often you're actually right"
Jefferson laughed before he looked at Hyde. "Thank you. For getting her out and saving her."
Hyde nodded, quiet but resolute. "I'd do it a thousand times over."
Killian stepped in beside her. "And here I thought you were stuck with blood and mayhem for company. Instead, you've got juice boxes and card games."
"Versatility is key," Jessica replied with a grin.
Regina's arms folded tightly over her chest, breaking the moment. "That's all very touching, but we're not quite safe yet. The serum worked... but is there any left?"
Hyde's jaw tightened. "No. Jekyll only made enough for one dose. I had to use it. Otherwise, Belle and Jessica wouldn't have made it off that ship alive."
Regina exhaled sharply, her frustration clear. "Great. That means we're back to square one."
Jessica straightened a bit. "Once I'm healed, we'll figure it out. We'll make more. Together."
Regina sighed and glanced to the others. "I'm not sure we have time to wait."
David turned to Hyde. "Was that why you didn't wait for us? You didn't think we'd believe you?"
"I knew you wouldn't," Hyde replied, unflinching. "From the moment we arrived, I was the monster, and Jekyll was your tragic scientist. If I'd waited, they'd both be dead."
Snow took a breath and stepped toward them. "If you and Jessica plan on staying in this town... you're going to need to trust us. We fight for the good here."
Jessica cut in, sharp but fair. "And maybe next time, don't judge a person on how dangerous they look. Maybe you'd have gotten our cooperation earlier if you hadn't made up your minds before we said a word."
A quiet murmur of guilt rippled through the room—scattered apologies mumbled in Jessica and Hyde's direction.
A knock sounded and the hospital doctor poked his head in, clipboard in hand. "Miss Lucas?"
"Yes?" she called without looking.
"Just wanted to say I sent in your scripts for antibiotics and painkillers. Once your discharge papers are done, you're free to go. No lifting anything over three pounds for at least four months. And I mean it. Rest, Miss Lucas."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine."
Hyde accepted the instructions and prescriptions. "We'll follow everything. Thank you Doctor."
"So," Killian said, arms crossed. "Now that the town doesn't think you're criminals anymore, what happens next?"
Jessica looked at Hyde, who smiled gently before glancing back at the others.
"We make a home," she said.
"We're thinking about staying here. Building something. But the world's bigger now, and we want to see that too."
Hyde nodded. "Whatever stories brought people to our land, they're free to write new endings now. I'm stepping down as warden. Let them go live their lives."
Belle tilted her head. "But were any of them... you know... actual criminals?"
Hyde gave a wry shrug. "Define criminal."
Jessica laughed and tapped his arm playfully. "Most came to escape pain, not cause it. They wanted second chances. Who are we to deny them?"
That seemed to settle most concerns—except Emma's.
"Hyde... what you told me. About saviors always dying. Was it true?"
Jessica glared at him mildly. "Seriously?"
Hyde lifted a hand, conceding. "Partially true. Some have died. Sacrificed themselves. But there was one—Aladdin. He vanished. No proof he ever died."
Emma blinked. "Jasmine told me about him. We were going to look for him. If he's alive... maybe I can change my fate too."
Jessica nodded. "Emma, you didn't think Hyde and I would survive this, remember? And here we are. That says something."
Snow took her daughter's hand. "Jessics is right. We're stronger together. We're an unstoppable force when united."
Hyde raised a brow. "And what happens when your unstoppable force meets an immovable object?"
David met his gaze. "Then we push harder."
Regina's gaze sharpened. "What about the Evil Queen? You saw her last."
"I left her," Hyde said bluntly. "In the woods. After I lured Emma and David away. Our goals no longer aligned."
"You don't think she'll come back?" Emma asked.
Jessica scoffed. "Doubtful. Now that Hyde and I are together? Love..hope..That's everything she hates. She won't risk it."
Hyde nodded. "I have no intention of working with her again."
Emma's eyes turned serious. "Then we need to find Aladdin. If he's still out there, he may hold the answer."
"I hope I'm wrong," Hyde said, his voice softer than usual. "Truly. I'd like to see the savior survive."
One by one, the group filtered out, offering hugs and handshakes. Regina gave Jessica a rare half-smile. Killian tousled her hair, much to her protest. Emma promised to return with updates on their search.
Then, silence. Only Belle, Jefferson, Gracie, and Hyde remained.
Jessica glanced toward Belle. "What about you? What are you going to do?"
Belle's smile was uncertain. "Figure things out, I suppose."
"No," Jessica said firmly, and every head in the room turned.
Belle blinked. "No?"
Jessica nodded. "No. I'm not letting you struggle. I've got magic. Hyde and I will build a house out by Jefferson's. I'll expand it—add a whole wing for you and your son. You'll have your own space, your own nursery, and no more wondering where you belong."
Belle blinked, surprised.
"I can't ask that of you," she began.
Hyde shook his head. "Nonsense. He made his choices, Belle. Let us help you now. After everything...it's the least we can do."
Jessica leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Besides, I need a friend around who won't judge my snacking habits. And you're brilliant—you can help us finish the new serum."
Belle laughed softly, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"Alright, thank you so much"
From the foot of the bed, Gracie scribbled away on her drawing, oblivious to the monumental peace treaty forming between the fractured souls of Storybrooke. Life was settling. Wounds would heal.
And for the first time in what felt like lifetimes...
The future was wide open.
(A/N:might add more like smaller guest appearances in the show after this idk yet lol)