strange and beautiful (I'll put a spell on you)

Chapter Eighteen

ENCHANTED FOREST

Rumpelstiltskin.

He had been her last hope.

There had to be some way the Dark One could free Jefferson from the spell Regina had cast all those years ago. It had been Rumpelstiltskin who had used magic to make it so that Jefferson was able to get into Rebekah's prison. Surely he could use his magic to reverse the spell and save Jefferson's life. He was the most powerful man in all the realms. How could there not be a way to save Jefferson? Regina's magic was powerful; Rebekah was well aware of that. But Rumpelstiltskin was stronger. There had to be a way he could stop this from happening!

Jefferson worked for the Dark One for years. That had to mean something, had to be worth something. If Rumpelstiltskin trusted Jefferson enough to do his bidding, surely he wouldn't want the man to die. But the days went by and Rebekah couldn't find it in herself to leave Jefferson or Grace for even a minute.

No matter how desperate she was to stay with her husband and their daughter for the rest of her life, she knew that Regina always got her way in the end. She knew that even if Rumpelstiltskin found a way to save Jefferson, who was to say that the evil woman wouldn't go after Grace next?

No. They would be fine. They would be safe and they would be able to go on with their lives even if she wasn't there to see it. Jefferson would raise Grace wonderfully and as the years went by, her sweet little Grace would grow into a kind young woman.

Rebekah hoped her daughter would someday find a partner as good to her as Rebekah had found in Jefferson. Rebekah wanted her daughter to meet someone who made her heart beat rapidly in her chest and caused her stomach to flutter with just one look. Rebekah wanted Grace to find True Love. To find someone someday who respected her, treated her right, made her smile, but most importantly someone who loved her unconditionally.

She just wanted her daughter to have a happy life filled with love and laughter and adventure.

Rebekah knew that Jefferson was stronger than her. He would go on without her and be able to survive it. But she couldn't say the same about herself. Rebekah couldn't imagine living in a world without Jefferson in it. She needed him to remain safe. She needed him alive. If he died, it would be because of her and that would destroy Rebekah's heart. It would turn black as stone and Rebekah would become the image of her mother and sister. She needed Jefferson to survive because if he died, Grace wouldn't just be losing a father. She'd lose a mother as well.

"Bex!" Jefferson shouted from downstairs. "Breakfast!"

Rebekah smiled sadly, trying to capture each moment in her mind. She'd hold onto each moment to get her through being Regina's prisoner -- to relive and cherish when she felt like she was losing all hope.

"Mama! Papa made a surprise!"

Rebekah let out a shaky breath and forced herself out of bed. "Coming!" She shouted, trying to keep her voice from wavering. Rebekah dressed herself quickly, pulling her hair out of her face and into a small bun and then searched her room for her old sketching pad. When she found it, her eyes filled with tears as she went through all the old pictures she had drawn. Sketches of Jefferson rocking Grace to sleep, of Grace taking her first steps, of Jefferson teaching their daughter to make Rebekah's favorite cup of tea. Pictures of her life with Jefferson before Grace was born. The sharp line of his jaw, the dimple in his chin, the hat atop his head.

When Regina came, they would need to flee. They would need to use the hat to hide in a different realm until enough time passed to return to the Enchanted Forest and go on with their lives. They would leave their home and all their belongings and stay with Victor where Regina couldn't reach them, and Rebekah prayed they would be able to move on with their lives and let her go. Jefferson had to let her go.