Title: mirror 'verse

Disclaimer: not my charcters

Warnings: AU

Pairings: Jefferson/Grace's mother, Rumpelstiltskin/Belle

Rating: PG

Wordcount: 430

Point of view: third

Prompt: Once Upon a Time, any/any or gen, AU with reverse morality - the heroes/heroines are all evil and cruel and the villains are actually good

After Rochelle dies, Jefferson tries to take Grace and hide away somewhere. The problem, of course, is that he'd made himself too useful, played both sides. The World Walker, they call him, jumping through portals and landing in other worlds.

A man with too much power to stay gone for good. Regina's resistance could use him, her wolf says, and then the Pale Queen's wolf promises a life of luxury for him and his daughter.

Rochelle died on a job for the Pale Queen; Jefferson had been somewhere else, delivering a family to safety for Regina. Neither of them concerned themselves with 'right' and 'wrong,' only with payment.

Rochelle is dead and Jefferson's morals boil down to what will keep his daughter safe.

He goes to Rumpelstiltskin.

.

Rumpelstiltskin does not lie; he merely withholds the truth wherever appropriate.

For his daughter's sake, Jefferson needs to be on the winning side.

"I could use a man of your talents," Rumpelstiltskin says. "Name your price."

Jefferson says, "Whatever you have in the works – I'll help you with it, whatever you need. As long as my daughter makes it through whole, safe, and alive."

Rumpelstiltskin smirks, toothy and wide. "You have a deal."

.

For Rumpelstiltskin, Jefferson continues playing both sides, aiding Regina one week and the Pale Queen the next. Regina's sanctuary camps swell full with refugees, and the Pale Queen's forces continue the hunt.

Word comes that the Pale Queen is pregnant and Rumpelstiltskin cackles for a full minute.

"At last, dearie," he says when he's calm. "At long last."

"Right then," Jefferson says. "If you have no further need of me today, I'm going to see my daughter."

"Of course, of course." Rumpelstiltskin waves dismissively. "She's out in the garden with Belle."

Jefferson nods, putting his hat in the box and then locking both away in Rumpelstiltskin's ensorcelled pocket-realm. It's as safe as it can be.

.

Grace shouts, "Papa!" and runs to him. Belle follows with a smile.

"All done for the day?" Belle asks as Jefferson scoops Grace up and spins her around.

"He seemed particularly happy that the Pale Queen is expecting," Jefferson says. Belle seems neither surprised nor concerned, so Jefferson decides to ignore it until Rumpelstiltskin makes it his business. "Now then," Jefferson says, setting Grace down. "My Lady Grace, what do you have planned for this evening?"

He follows his daughter into the garden, listening to her chatter about basilisks and phoenixes, her playmates in Rumpelstiltskin's territory. Grace is safe here, under the Dark One's protection, and whatever the end, Jefferson knows that's the only thing that matters.