Ever since that incident with Jefferson, you've kept your distance from everyone. You're now the kind of person that sat in Mary Margaret's couch with a tub full of ice cream watching Netflix. Emma grew tired of your laziness and worthlessness, so she decided it would be the perfect time to get you back on your feet. "(Y/N), get up." She demanded.
"But I don't want to- I'm tired." You whined, covering yourself with the sheets.
"Okay, get the hell up now before I flip the mattress."
You got used to her threats so you didn't take it seriously. But somehow, you did end up on the ground with a mattress heavily pinning you to the ground. "Emma!" Mary Margaret laughed as the blond haired woman leaped it.
"U-Ugh Emma, get off- I- can't- breathe..." You grunted.
"So are you going to come with me to the station or are you going to slack off like you always do?" She asked, leaning tauntingly over the mattress to confront you.
"What's the point? It's not like Paige is going to be at the doorsteps." You mumbled disappointedly.
"Oh honey," Mary cooed reassuringly, kneeling in front of you, "You should never give up hope. Especially not when it has to do with someone you love."
You felt her words seep into your mind, giving you a surge of faith. "You're right, Margaret. I shouldn't give up now..." You grinned softly.
"I guess that's my cue to get up." Emma sighed, towing herself off the mattress. You felt like you could finally breathe again once she got off.
"So what's the plan?"
"Like I said- we get to the station. We're going to catch up with Jefferson to investigate. I'm tired of being the only one putting effort into the investigation."
"Jefferson?" You groaned.
"Did you not hear anything else in what I said?" Emma snapped as you fell back onto the mattress.
"Oh no you don't," Margaret said, pushing you up to your feet with Emma helping. There was no more arguing. You were forced to dress, eat and walk out the door. You eventually just gave up on trying to go against the two women. The yellow car strolled down the gravel streets, the wheels of the car making a crunching sound as gravel scrapped against gravel. You stared out the window, avoiding conversation with Emma. Though, the pin-drop silence did not last for as long as pleased.
"You okay about seeing- him?"
You heaved a sigh and hoisted your chin over your fist. "I'll manage."
"If he bothers you, just- I dunno, stick with me, okay?" She glanced at you.
"Thanks. I'll take it into consideration." You mumbled the lack of interest soaked into your voice.
Emma sighed, catching your drift. The sky was paled by an enormous and it seemed as though the sun didn't feel the need to greet you on your grumpy day. Once you and Emma arrived, you noticed two cars parked in the usually deserted station. You flashed a curious glance at Emma as she stepped out of the yellow car, disoriented as well.
As the two of you entered the station, you heard familiar voices chatting amongst each other. You stopped dead in your tracks in the sight of the two people you hated most from the town: Jefferson and Gold. You could understand why Jefferson was here, but why Mr. Gold? "What are you doing here?" You furrow your brow at the man.
"Well it's a pleasure to see ya too, dearie," he chuckled, leaning against his staff as he stood. "I'm here to help find your daughter."
"What do you get out of helping us?" Emma retorted, raising a brow in suspicion.
"You can ask Jefferson about that." Gold huffed a chuckle, stepping away so you had the foul opportunity of locking eyes with the man. You didn't know what feeling was surging upon you. All you knew is your breath hitched and you felt a shiver down your spine. His vivid blue eyes were distant, his eyebrows were drawn together and his bow-shaped lips were pressed into a distasteful line of shame.
"You made a deal with him?" Emma asked.
"Yep," he stated plainly, towing himself to his feet.
"What was the deal?"
Jefferson walked passed and stopped at your shoulder. He glanced at you through his lashes, not directly confronting you, knowing it was futile. "I owe my life to him when this is through..."
You held your breath and waited for him to pass, suddenly interrupted by Emma once again, "Alright Gold, how are you contributing to the investigation."
"Well now that you've asked," he turned on his heels with a broadened smirk, "I think it's time we check the crime scene."
"The crime scene?"
"Wait you mean-"
"The house has been the same since you moved out. Maybe looking at it might give a brief idea of where she went." Gold suggested.
With a nodding gesture, the four of you set off to the house. Parking in front of it caused your heart to throb rapidly. The clouds settled behind the house, making an eerie appearance on the place you once called home. Jefferson held the door open while you and Emma staggered into the house. "Alright- look around and let me know if there's something off." The blond haired woman muttered, stretching on a pair of blue gloves. Gold, you and Jefferson dispersed into the house, searching about. Isolating from the others, you stumbled into kitchen.
~
In a flashback of dull gold, you saw Paige bolting through the hallways to you, with a book in her hand as she sat up on the chair.
"Good morning, sweetie~" you cooed in the memory, setting a plate of food in front of her.
"Good morning mama, ooh! I might bring Henry for dinner if that's okay with you?"
"I don't see anything wrong with that," you laugh pressing a kiss on her forehead.
~
"Find anything useful?" You shake your head as Mr. Gold interrupts the memories.
You clear your throat. "Uh no- nothing yet. Did you find anything?"
"Still keeping a keen eye on things," He muttered, glancing around uneasily. "I know things must be hard on you, just know that- I'm like your father."
"A father wouldn't abandon their child when they're at need." You stated plainly, stumbling into Paige's room without his trail. Mr. Gold's expression faded into guilt and shame as he heaved a sigh, giving up on convincing you. He knew time and chance would turn you towards him. He wouldn't let go of you- like he did with Baelfire.
The soft rays of sunlight against the pastel purple of the bedroom made goose bumps rise upon your skin. You sat on her little bed that was pressed against the window, feeling the sun on your back.
~
It reminded you of when Paige hugged you from behind, pressing a tender kiss on your cheek.
"What was that for?" You huffed a light chuckle, glancing back at the child.
"For taking me in,"
"Shh don't say that. You sound like you're calling yourself a stray dog."
"Truth is, I probably would be if it weren't for you." She beamed a heartwarming grin. With teary eyes you held the girl to your chest and embraced her with all the love you could bare.
What you had with Paige was rare. You were best friends in a strange way. Everything done was together. There was never (Y/N) or Paige. It was (Y/N) and Paige. She was the one love that promised to stay, love you with all her heart, and find a way back no matter what the dilemmas were. She was... amazing.
~
You held Paige's pillow to your chest and buried your nose into it, taking in the last of what was left of her. The scent of her reminded you of her beautiful chocolate wondrous eyes, her sweet smiles, and the little giggles she made when you made a horrendous joke. She always wanted you to be safe and happy just as you wanted for her. "Oh Paige..." you broke into hot tears, securely holding the pillow as though it were her.
A warm reassuring hand cupped your shoulder, causing you turn away quickly to wipe your tears. "We found something..." Jefferson muttered, knowing you would yell at him if he mentioned about the girl or your state of mind. You mopped the rest of your tears and gently put the pillow back in place before joining the others in the hallway.
"(Y/N), did you always have this mark here?" Emma asked, leaning over at the wall.
"I don't know, maybe it came from the furniture or something." You stated, uninterested by the scratch.
"Well it sure is something..." she rolled her eyes at your response.
"But look," Jefferson bent down to the wall. "It doesn't look like furniture caused it. There's a dent beside the mark too. It's like something crashed into it and scratched it..."
"The mark looks like it's been caused by a knife..."
"And the bump seems to been cause by something else- like a vase or a fist or a-"
"Skull?" Gold interrupted Jefferson with a brow raised.
The three of you turned to the man with curious and distressed looks, "What are you trying to say?"
"Looks like the kidnapper bashed her head into the wall, marked the wall accidently and needed to cover it up with this table." Gold explained. You could feel your world spin out of your control.
"Y-You think he used the knife on her?" You wheezed.
"We can't be sure..."
As you began to panic, Jefferson's meaty yet warm hand grasped yours gently. "Hey- it's going to be alright. We'll find her." He whispered, his blue eyes draining the world around. The tenseness in your shoulders from his touch slowly diminished. For a moment you swore you forgot about Jefferson trying to take advantage of you. You forgot how insane and mad he was. You felt yourself nod slightly as you were in a trance.
Emma noticing the reaction reeled you up to your feet, "We're going to get some fresh air. Pack up in a bit." She said. The two men nodded and stared deeply at the scratch on the wall. Before you left, you eavesdropped on their conversation.
"It can't be him, can it?" Jefferson whispered.
"He won't last long if it is him..." Gold smirked slyly.
You don't know what they were talking about, but if they really knew who took Paige, you wouldn't mind the man gone either...
YOU ARE READING
When Worlds Collide | Mad Hatter OUAT x Reader |
FanfictionIt's a curse you can't seem to break. Everything you love is bound to leave you. From your father, your adopted daughter to your true love - everyone's just gone. But don't you remember? You said in another life that loved ones are like boomerangs...
