Once Upon A Wondrous Love (A Once Upon A Time Fanfiction)

Chapter Seven: The Tea Party

"Tea!? He invited you to tea!?" Ruby exclaimed from my bed as I searched through my meager belongings for an appropriate outfit. "Yeah." I replied absentmindedly. 

Did I want to wear my skirt or go casual? 

"Hm. Well he might as well have asked you to sleep with him." she said coyly. I rounded to her. "What is that supposed to mean!?" "Jefferson is...anyway he is like a loner and all he cares about is Grace. She is his everything." she said, pulling a thread from the quilt. 

"Well I guess that's good...on another note, what should I wear?" I grabbed the skirt and held it up with two different tops. She gave me a look. 

"You're going to tea." "Well excuse me to have never gone to any before...you wanna lend a hand?" She nodded and dragged me down the hallway into her room. I surveyed the posters that covered the old wallpaper as she opened her closet door. 

"Hm, try this. I never wore it anyway." She revealed a blue dress with a white bow at the collar. "That doesn't look like your style anyway." I teased as I took it from her. 

"You sure it won't be too formal?" "He'll love it." I rolled my eyes and bid her a goodnight. 

Back in my room, I hung up the dress and prepared for a well-earned rest. I was just about to lay down when I heard a scratching at the window. Tense, I pulled back the curtains and glanced out. 

It happened again and I jumped back. It took me a moment to make out two green orbs that were attached to a face. 

The cat. I pulled open the window and sighed. "Really?" I asked it, picking it up and glancing out into the forest. I shook my head and closed the window. The cat leapt from my arms and onto the bed.

"Oh no! You are not staying." I hissed as the cat rubbed itself against me. "Alright." I gave it a scratch on the ear. 

"What shall we call you?" I asked softly as it purred against me. "Dinah. I like Dinah." The cat gave a nod of recognition and we both fell into a deep sleep.

***

A knock sounded at the door. Jefferson adjusted his scarf and took a deep breath. He surveyed his blue eyes and suit (the best he had to be exact). He heard Grace run down the stairs and make her way to the door. 

He joined her quickly; it was still too early for Alice to be there. He heard her voice before he made his way to the top step. 

"Hello Grace, is your father here?" he cringed at Regina's voice, remembering all the pain she had caused them both. Rushing down the stairs to Grace's side, he took in the Evil Queen. 

"Grace, go make sure everything is ready." he said softly, patting her shoulder. She nodded and left. 

"Regina. To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, sighing. She gave him a harsh smile. "That new girl, Alice. You are having her to tea?" she asked, walking inside past him. She took in his front living room and hmphed. 

"I don't see how that is any of your concern." Jefferson shot back. She turned and glared at him. "She is not to know anything that has happened here. As far as she knows, we are just a normal, small town." Regina said, coming towards him. 

"And how do we know that she doesn't know everything?" Regina glared at him. "I have Emma on that. I will trust you will tell me anything that she says that's odd." Regina eyed him up and down. 

"You do clean up nicely Hatter." she commented, noting how much effort he had put into himself. "And if I don't?" Jefferson challenged, gesturing her out of the door. "You will." she said, glancing back towards the kitchen where Grace's hum was cut off by the screen door slamming.