Top Hats and Hooks (Two OUAT Fanfictions in One)

Chapter Seven | Open Heart

Part of this chapter is inspired by Panic! At The Disco's song Victorious and their music video for This Is Gospel.

"Good morning, Jefferson." I said, getting up out bed and grabbing my burgundy sweater. He groaned and rolled out of bed. "Are you okay, babe?"

Jefferson didn't say anything. I leaned over the edge of our bed and he was gone. "Where did you go?" I looked under the bed and a pair of feet appeared across from me. He grabbed my waist and pulled me to face him. "Idiot." I punched him playfully, then glared at him.

He looked at me. "My wife is a nut."

"As always, my dear." I smiled. "Breakfast?" I asked. Jefferson grabbed one of those really ugly 90's striped shirts and pulled it over his shoulders. "I take that as a yes?"

Jefferson nodded. "Yep."

Usually, Jefferson was the cook, but I took my turn. Eggs, pancakes and bacon... and it turned out that my husband made it instead of me. "See? You don't toss the bacon. That would hurt," He said, grabbing the spatula in his hands and scraping the bacon off the pan and into a plate. "Much easier this way."

"Just go sit down." I laughed. He kissed my cheek and went off to sit at the table. "Breakfast is served!" I giggled and placed a plate in front of him.

He smiled. "Thank you, Miss Bellamy." He kissed me and dug into his breakfast. I hate being called 'Miss' all the time, but I haven't seen my husband in years, so I don't mind it much. I slung my bag over my shoulder and went to the door.

"I'll be back from work around... three? Yeah, three. If you want to swing by the studio, you can." I said. Jefferson nodded. "Alright, princess. See ya around." I kissed his cheek and went off. I don't fancy egg breath.

I didn't mind walking to work every morning, then having Jefferson walk back home with me. Every once in a while, Regina would pop in the studio so I could design something for her, or something like that, but the studio was never busy. I stayed by myself most of the time.

My top hat- the one Jefferson gave me years ago in the Enchanted Forest- sat on my desk and I smiled. "I wonder if it still works..." I waved my hand over the inside of the hat and the inside looked like water. "Show me Jefferson... the Mad Hatter." I said. It flickered until I saw his image, standing in the kitchen his phone in his hand. My own started ringing.

"Hey, Liberty, wanna go to Granny's for lunch? Then maybe I can make dinner-" I cut Jefferson off.

I sighed happily. "Perfect, but why don't we just order take-out for dinner? Watch some movies, pajamas..."

I could see him smile in the top hat. "See you then." Jefferson said. He hung up and the image shimmered. I turned and the door flung open, Regina standing in the doorway.

"Why are you here? Usually you call before." I said plainly. She smirked.

She mumbled, "I'm bringing magic back."

***

"Bella! Liberty!" Jefferson called. I groaned and rolled over on my side and found myself in a pool of red liquid. Blood. My blood. I coughed and sputtered until blood came up. He came over and cradled me in his arms. "I-I'm getting help, just-just stay with me." Jefferson picked me up bridal style and ran out the door. "Please, look, look! You're going to be okay!"

I tried to stay awake. It was impossible to. It was almost like someone was calling me to go to sleep, to die. The feeling below my knees slowly faded, like it was going numb. My vision was going dark, the numbness spread across my body. "I-" I choked. "I loved you, Jefferson."

Jefferson glanced at me, tears in his eyes. "Stay with me... please, Bella, stay with me." The last thing I remember seeing is tears running down his face and yelling for a nurse at the hospital.

I woke up in a surgery room although I really shouldn't have woken up. If they gave me anesthetics, shouldn't I be knocked out? My eyes flew open. Doctors and nurses hovered over me and I couldn't feel my heart beat. I breathed heavily and clawed at the surgery bed. I couldn't speak. IVs were in both of my wrists, pumping blood into my arm and I started panicking. Some of the nurses held me down as the rest tied me up. My chest was open, where my heart should've been and I was finally able to scream. "Where am I?!" I demanded, ripping away the restraints. The nurses and doctors rushed over and held me down again.

"Let me go!" I screamed. "I'm not your guinea pig!" I ripped the IVs out of my arms and tried to run, but there wasn't a door knob on the door, just keypad. I could feel the blood oozing out of my arms and chest. One of the nurses grabbed my shoulder and the doctor stabbed my back with a needle and I fell to the ground.

When I came to, someone held my hand and was sobbing. "She doesn't have a heart," A man said. "Quite literally. But she can breath and function just fine. We have footage from the surgery, and it's unbelievable."

I squeezed the hand that held mine and sank into my pillow. "Jefferson...?" I opened my eyes and reached for him, but the IVs restrained me. "Get... me... out... of...here." I breathed heavily and pulled him closer. "Please."

Jefferson looked at me sadly. "You don't have a heart, Bella." He said, choking up.

No... heart?