Madness {Ouat}

Decisions

    Cheshire sat patiently as she, Henry, Mary Margret, and David waited for Emma and Regina to arrive at the Charming's house. The four sat quietly around table, non of them exactly sure what to say. Cheshire fiddled with her fingers as she studied the strangers surrounding her. After what felt like forever, there was a knock at the door and David went promptly to open it. The women they had been waiting for finally entered. Cheshire found the blonde's expression upon seeing her unusual, but she couldn't put a finger on why. She figured Emma must know something, however, now was nowhere near the right time to worry about it.
With everyone now gathered in one place, Cheshire felt and saw all eyes land on her. She took a quite breath then started.
    "Hello I'm Cheshire," Was what she thought was best to start with. "I came here from Wonderland because Absolem, the caterpillar, used Jabberwock's blood to get here or just leave Wonderland in general I'm not sure which," Cheshire realized she was starting to ramble and took a second to reign herself back in before continuing. "I'm not the only thing that came through, different, dangerous creatures have begun to... Fall through the cracks."
    "Unfixed portals from Wonderland are extremely unstable," Regina broke into what Cheshire was saying. "Won't it just close in on itself soon?"
    "Not fast enough," Cheshire glared at Regina as she answered. "If we wait there's no telling what else could come through. We need to find it and close it as soon a possible," She looked at everyone, slowly. "So... Any ideas?" For a few moments the room was quiet, then Regina's expression changed.
    "Yes-maybe, wait here" with that she waved her arms and vanished in column of smoke.
    "So that's why people are annoyed when I do that" Cheshire muttered to herself as the last bit of residual mist fell. She glanced  over at everyone else as they slowly began breaking off from the table to wait. Cheshire took that as her queue to do the same and went to sit down the couch, which had yet to be claimed. She sat down lightly, with legs crossed and a tense posture, tapping her finger on the cushion beneath her. She watched her hosts curiously as they split off and talked to one another. Henry and Emma's conversation in particular caught her attention however; they were whispering to each other. Cheshire's eyes narrowed, she could tell what kind of whisper it was. It was that careful kind of whisper, the one for when don't want any chance of someone hearing. Cheshire looked quickly to the side when Henry turned and began to walk towards her.
    "Mind if I sit?" Henry asked, before giving a small, closed mouth, smile.
    "Sure, it's you grandparents house," She motioned for him to sit. He sat down next to her, his whole body facing her with what looked like poorly hidden curiosity. "Yes?" Cheshire asked almost sarcastically, but covered it just enough that he hopefully couldn't tell.
    "Apparently my mom talked to Jefferson and-"
    "Please don't," Cheshire cut him off, still sitting, but now staring directly at him.
    "He just wants to know you're okay, and he knows stuff about portals, he can help." Cheshire clenched her fist, visibly upset at the idea of bringing him here.  "I've read your story, he cares about you."
    "I don't doubt that! But just because you can magically read about people's lives doesn't mean you have the right to!" Cheshire finally stood up, glaring at Henry. She took note of the attention she gained from the room and attempted to calm herself down. "He finally has it Henry," She tried to speak quietly but there was really no use. "He has everything he has ever talked about wanting since the moment I met him, and I'll be damned if I mess it up for him!"
    The room was silent. Cheshire put her hand over mouth in a moment of realization and took a step back.
    "I need a moment," Cheshire stated softly and disappeared before anyone could interject.

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    Cheshire teleported in to a clearing where the large trees of Tulgey Wood stopped. Her sudden appearance caused Jefferson to jump up instinctively, only for him to see Cheshire and settle down again. He nodded to acknowledge her being there, then started to turn away to do something else.
    "Hatter," Cheshire tried to get his attention. "You won't believe what happened." Jefferson looked over his shoulder at her, before sighing softly and turning completely.
    "Look, if you found another mome rath skeleton, I'm gonna have to pass." He stated, not necessarily trying to be harsh but still a little irritable from the general work of the day.
    "Wh- no," Cheshire ran up to his leg and looked up at him confidently, despite the fact that she stood a foot under his knee. "Hearts is gone," she told him with light enthusiasm in her voice.
    "What?" Jefferson's demeanor changed drastically upon hearing the news. Cheshire moved so that she was standing in front of him and looked up.
    "The Caterpillar told me," She explained with wide eyes.
    "Oh yeah, and he's so trustworthy," Jefferson started to move past her as he spoke. Cheshire followed after him, trotting in order to keep up with his stride.
    "Hatter, don't you understand what this means?" She ran forward and stopped a few feet in front of him. "I've learned magic since we were last there," Cheshire prepared what she wanted to say next, her ears lowering as she looked at him. "I can do it." Jefferson stared at her for a while, very clearly lost in thought before he snapped out of it.
    "It's too dangerous" he stated, almost unable to say anything else. Cheshire's ears perked back up, this time more out of irritation.
    "I don't understand, do you want to rot here? Because that's what we'll do if we don't take this chance," Cheshire narrowed her eyes and sharply motioned down with her head. Jefferson looked to the side for a moment, with his eyes closed in thought. Then looked back at her and begrudgingly knelt down to be closer to her level. Cheshire looked him in the eyes, hopefully waiting for a response.
    "Do you really think you can get us out?" Jefferson finally asked. Cheshire paused for a moment then looked at him with soft determination
    "I can get it to work."