Jefferson and Julian lay on the hill overlooking the rabbit's house, watching for nearly an hour before they descended, finally sure that there were no Queen's Guard patrolling and keeping a watch on the house.

The rabbit followed slowly behind them, his limp more pronounced now after the long walk back to his home. Cautiously he produced his key and peered inside his home, his pink nose trembling as he waited for some indication that it was safe to enter.

Jefferson stepped carefully past him and searched the small rooms within, nodding at Julian and the rabbit as he pushed open the shutters on the windows, allowing more light and air into the home.

The rabbit moved slowly around the kitchen, filling the kettle and clattering about as he put out biscuits on a plate. Jefferson and Julian sat slowly at the table, gratefully accepting the tea and biscuits the rabbit silently offered them.

"So who is this person that is going to help us get into the castle?" Julian asked curiously.

The rabbit glanced over his glasses at them and then sighed, "He's less a person, and more…well, a cat," he revealed.

Julian paused before speaking and smiled, "The Cheshire Cat?" he asked, incredulous.

Jefferson's lips pursed and he shook his head, "And how are we supposed to find him in time? He only goes where he wants, you should know that if you consider him a friend," he told the rabbit.

"Well, I happen to have something that I can use to contact him. Can you please reach into that cupboard and get out the bag of catweed?" the rabbit asked, pointing to a cupboard above Julian's shoulder.

The older man nodded and stood, stooping down below the low ceiling as he reached into the cupboard, pulling out a small bag of dried purple grass. The rabbit nodded, "There's a plate there too and some matches, we'll need those," he informed Julian.

Julian grabbed the small yellow and white striped plate and box of matches, setting the small collection of items down on the table. "What now?" he asked, glancing curiously at the rabbit.

"Now you take a pinch of the catweed and put it on the plate outside the front door and light it. The smoke will burn and he'll smell it. He should come within a few hours."

Julian glanced at Jefferson, brow furrowed with concern. "A few hours, huh?" he murmured.

"I assure you, Avelina will remain safe as long as the Queen wants something from her. In her case, it's how to travel between worlds most likely," the rabbit assured them.

Julian swallowed hard, worry making his stomach sour. After a moment he nodded, "Okay," he murmured before rising to his feet and taking the catweed out the front door to burn. He returned a few minutes later when the grass was smoking and sank back down into his chair, running a tired hand over his face.

Jefferson leaned back in his chair and sipped on his tea, trying to formulate a plan of rescue for Avelina. An idea teased at his brain, but it was still unformed.

He looked out the window and into the distance where the castle lay and frowned thoughtfully, recalling his own traumatic time within its walls. If all went well within the next day, he and Avelina would be home.

He glanced over at Julian and shame washed through him. The man that had raised Avelina, that had loved her like a father, that had fearlessly risked his life for her by coming here…he wouldn't make it back.

Avelina sighed and stretched out her legs on her bed, reclining back on the pillows as she read, trying to stave off the boredom that came with captivity. Since the portal had opened early that morning she had been confined to her rooms by order of the Queen.

At the sight of the portal the Queen had seemed genuinely startled and deeply worried, her shoulders snapping back as she ordered her guard to close the gates of the castle and lock it down.

Any hope of rescue began to slip out of Avelina's grasp.

She hadn't been able to walk the halls of the castle and find a way out during her time here and with the gates closing, there was no chance any rescue plan that Jefferson might be attempting would be successful.

If it even was Jefferson that had come through the portal.

With magic back in StoryBrooke it very well could be Regina or Gold—neither option thrilled her, but if it was Gold that had come through a portal, her odds of survival and escape were much higher than if it was Regina.

If it was Regina she really didn't want to be around for that family reunion.

"You're much prettier than he said."

Avelina jumped at the sound of an unexpected voice and when she looked down to the foot of her bed was startled to see a purpled and grey striped tabby cat the size of a small dog lounging there, studiously watching her; its green eyes fixated on her as its tail darted back and forth.

"I-I…you..how did you get in here?" she demanded, ignoring for now the fact that the cat could talk. If the rabbit could, and flowers the size of a house could laugh, why not talking cats?

The cat licked its whiskers and smiled at her…smiled. It had such a look of self satisfaction on its face that she immediately understood the expression "the cat that got the cream."

"I think perhaps the better question is…how do I intend to get out of here?" he asked archly, lifting a paw to clean, giving her a shrewd look.

Avelina looked around her room swiftly and realized that none of her windows or doors was open and the vents to the room were sealed, which meant that this cat had somehow just…materialized…in her room.

She turned back to look at the cat and narrowed her eyes as a thought made her lean forward, "You're the Cheshire Cat," she whispered.

His tail flicked quickly and he strolled forward, coming within just inches of her face as he studied her. After a moment he nodded, "Indeed. Are you ready to get out of here?" he asked abruptly.

Avelina nodded and grinned, "What's the plan?"

"You will remain here until dark falls. I will scout the rest of this castle until I am familiar with all of its nooks and crannies and return to lead you free. When you hear a great commotion outside in the keep, you will know it is time," he informed her.

Avelina nodded and then hesitated, "Who sent you?" she asked softly, almost afraid of the answer.

A wide grin spread on the cat's face and he began to disappear. Avelina frowned and leaned forward to lay a hand on him, to try and stop him, but her fingers passed through his disappearing form into nothingness.

"A friend"

The cat's voice was soft as the last of his body disappeared, his grin lingering for a moment before it too was gone.

Avelina rolled her eyes and sank back against the pillow, "Great."

Julian and Jefferson walked slowly towards the castle, adjusting the stolen Guard's uniforms that sat poorly on their frames. As part of the plan the rabbit had gone to the nearest village and summoned Guards to his house, alerting them to the "fugitives from another realm."

When they had arrived Julian and Jefferson had quickly attacked them and knocked them out, taking their clothing and weapons. Once they had arranged their guns so they were hidden, they set out for the castle.

Dusk was setting quickly and they knew from word that the rabbit had gathered at the village that the castle was under lockdown. The Cheshire Cat had brought them brief word that Avelina was being held within the inner keep and was prepared for her escape.

Everything was ready; they just had to pull the trigger, so to speak.

Julian staggered into the outer keep, holding a bottle of alcohol and slurring. His fellow guards laughed and pushed him towards the barracks, making the mistake of coming too close. He immediately went into action, smashing the bottle over the head of the largest man before swinging the broken glass toward the next, slicing through the thick flesh of his upper arm.

He moved relentlessly, knowing what was at risk.

When three men were dead at his feet he lunged forward towards the barracks where five more were spilling out, swords raised in anticipation of battle. Julian reached for the gun at his waist and a moment later a fireball erupted halfway across the keep, startling the men and catching their attention.

He quickly darted forward and began attacking them, watching as out of the corner of his eye Jefferson ran forward, firing his crossbow, carefully aiming and firing.

A breath later another fireball erupted further in the keep, this one larger and hotter, shards of metal flying through the air to pierce into soft flesh. Julian ducked and stabbed a man in front of him in the gut, twisting his knife as he sliced across, shoving the man aside as he lunged forward, continuing his slow progress forward.

He heard the high pitched, frightened whinnying of horses and looked up, watching as Jefferson led three horses out of the stables, away from the flames and towards the inner keep gates which had until now, remained closed.

A moment later they began to open.

Julian sucked in a joyous breath when Avelina ran forward, her long red tresses streaming behind her. She glanced around the keep once, taking in the sight of the chaos before barreling straight into Jefferson's arms and kissing him firmly.

A breath later they were separating and she was mounting the horse, taking the reins of the other and riding straight for him. Jefferson rode beside her, leaning low over the horses' neck to avoid the crossbow bolts being fired at them.

As Avelina pulled the horses to a halt near him Julian staggered over, weary to the bone, and climbed astride, urging the horse forward.

They rode away at a gallop, leaving the castle to burn.

Avelina peered over her shoulder as they rode, her stomach in knots from fear. The chaos in the keep had been significant, but as they had ridden away she had seen a crowned figure in the window, watching their escape.

She could hear the hooves of their pursuers, but she had yet to see any of the guards. They had a small, but significant lead.

As they wound around the path and burst through the creek, she could feel her horse laboring, trying to keep up the punishing pace they had been setting. A large hill loomed ahead and each of their horses slowed, struggling through the brush and the incline.

She glanced back again as they made it to the top and finally saw their pursuers, cursing when she saw how many there were. Two dozen men for just the three of them? She narrowed her eyes and hissed in fear when she saw a figured robed in red, a mask on her face.

The Queen.

She had personally joined this pursuit.

Avelina pushed her horse to join up next to Jefferson's and leaned over slightly to shout at him. "The Queen is here! They're gaining!"

He nodded and glanced back, his face paling when he saw her bright figure standing out among her crow black soldiers. They raced down the road to where the portal was and Avelina swore, glancing back to see six guards chasing hard after them.

Three raised crossbows and began firing.

"Shit!" she yelped and laid herself flat against the horses' neck, urging it forward harder.

She heard a cry of pain and looked over to see Julian clutching at his shoulder where a bolt was protruding, blood staining his shirt. Fear tore through her and she clenched the reins tighter, urging her horse faster towards the portal.

They barreled around the corner and flew into the forest, straight towards a small clearing where the velvet hat lay, the portal wide open.

Avelina dismounted messily, half falling to the ground as she rushed to Julian's side. He lay slumped over his horse, his face pale. "Come on old man, you gotta get down," she urged, trying to be both quick and careful as she helped him down.

Julian bit his cheek as pain rippled through his shoulder, nearly blinding him. He glanced over her shoulder to where the guard was rapidly approaching and with what little strength he had left, shoved her towards Jefferson.

Avelina's brow furrowed as her father stepped away from her, drawing his gun.

"Julian?" she called, trying to step toward him, struggling against Jefferson's restraining hand.

Julian glanced at Jefferson, his gaze firm, "You take care of her, you understand me?" he ordered. Jefferson nodded, swallowing hard, his throat tight with emotion.

"Yes sir," he managed to whisper.

Julian's gaze flicked to Avelina and softened. "I love you sweet girl. You do what makes you happy, and let him help you every now and again, huh?" he murmured, his eyes shining with emotion.

Avelina shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. "No. No! You don't get to do this!" she cried, struggling against Jefferson.

Julian heaved a sigh and turned to glance at the Guard who were now only a hundred yards away. "You gotta go Avelina. There's no time. The portal only takes as many back as came through," he told her, smiling softly, sadly.

Avelina's gut turned to ice and her knees nearly buckled beneath her. "No…" she whispered, clinging to Jefferson for support. She barely felt it as he guided her towards the portal.

The wind whipped around them as they drew closer and she leaned forward, her eyes intent on her father, watching as he lifted his gun to fire at the guards. Men fell from their horses as he fired round after round.

A breath later a figure in bright red rode through the clearing, firing a crossbow at Julian. Avelina screamed a warning, but it was too late, the bolt slammed into his chest. Avelina sobbed as her father slumped to the ground, blood spreading over his chest.

Their eyes met as Jefferson dragged her into the portal and she threw a hand out as though she could grab his wrist and take him with them. "I love you dad," she whispered, watching as he smiled and then went still.

The Queen turned towards them and fired.

Wind whipped and screamed around them as they flew back through the portal and Avelina clung to Jefferson, barely aware of her surroundings. Air ripped back into her lungs as they were flung back onto the forest floor of StoryBrooke and she began to sob, great heaving tears that left her breathless.

Jefferson crawled over to where she lay on her side, curled into a ball, and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her, holding onto her as her body shook with the weight of her loss.

Tears of his own rolled down his cheeks.

He had never wanted this for her. He had never wanted magic in his life. He had only ever wanted to live a normal, happy life with his wife and daughter, and somehow he had been pulled into a mess so big it seemed like he would never escape.

Now he had ruined Avelina's life.

Three Weeks Later

Avelina sat at her desk in the precinct, staring at her computer screen, trying to concentrate. Since her return to Boston two and a half weeks ago, she had been on desk duty. Her explanation for the loss of her suspect for the bank heists had not gone over well, and she had been placed under review.

No one was happy with her, and she couldn't blame them.

She had gone to StoryBrooke and had gotten caught up with Jefferson and his missing daughter and magic and other bullshit and now the only man who had ever been her father was dead. Her career wasn't looking so hot either.

Rubbing a hand over her face she sighed and shut the lid on her computer, it was half past ten, she wasn't doing any good just sitting around doing jack shit. She might as well go get a drink.

The bartender slid her another gin and tonic and she sighed, glancing at the patrons from her spot in the corner. She could watch people here without being cornered by men to be hit on, and the rear exit was just a few feet away if she wanted to slip away.

Her phone buzzed and she flipped it over to see who it was.

Sergeant Cross.

"Fuck me," Avelina sighed before answering.

"McNair here," she murmured, sipping on her drink.

"McNair. I wanted to let you know that you've been cleared of any wrongdoing in the death of Thomas Yard. You'll be off desk duty by Monday. Since his body was lost out of our jurisdiction and the robberies have ended, the case is considered closed. Congratulations."

Avelina stared down into her glass, swirling the contents before she responded. "Don't really feel much like I deserve congratulations boss," she murmured before sipping on her drink again.

Cross sighed and the line remained silent for a moment. "Avelina, I'm going to tell you something, something you might not want to hear. I got the distinct impression after the meeting with brass that if you were ever up for promotion, they wouldn't be inclined to give it to you."

Avelina laughed at that, shaking her head, a dry smile on her face. "Of course ma'am. Thanks for the heads up," she murmured.

"You're welcome," Cross replied softly before hanging up.

Avelina set her phone down and stared thoughtfully into her glass as she drank, wondering what exactly it was she was going to do next. Brass had made their point perfectly clear—her career in Boston was over.

Her family here was dead and gone.

There was nothing here for her now.

Swallowing down the last of her drink she set the glass down on the polished wood of the bar with a gentle thunk and picked up her phone, contemplating for a moment before typing.

When the gentle whooshing noise let her know the text had been sent she smirked, waiting on the reply.

Five Years Later

Avelina's feet pounded into the ground and her chest heaved as she sprinted after the man who was suspected of killing his wife. It really wasn't helping his case that he was running from her. They barreled down an alley and she grinned ferally; the alley dead-ended ahead with a brick wall that was about three feet too high to scale.

The man whirled and pulled on her, leveling a pistol she hadn't realized he had.

Fuckfuckfuck

She stumbled to a halt and instantly threw her hands up in a pacifying gesture.

"Hey, woah, it's okay," she called, trying to soothe him.

"I didn't kill her!" he called back, waving the gun for emphasis.

Avelina really wished he wouldn't.

"Well, why did you run from me then?" she asked, keeping an eye on where his fingers were in relation to the trigger.

He sweated and shook his head, "Because, I know you don't believe me! Come on. I've got gang tats and my wife is white and pretty. There's no way you believe me."

Avelina hesitated and stepped forward, "Listen, I don't like that you ran from me, but can you give me the name of who you think might have killed her?" she asked gently.

He nodded fervently, "My old crew. They weren't supposed to know where we were, but some punk on the street recognized one of my tats and he bolted before I could stop him from talking. I was going to offer to pay him, but it was too late."

Avelina frowned, "Are you WitSec?" she asked curiously.

He nodded and Avelina huffed a frustrated breath, "Where the hell is your agent?" she demanded, "You should have called them when you got made!" she told the man angrily.

He glared at her and his voice cracked when he yelled, "You think I don't know that? My wife is dead because of me!"

Avelina shook her head and lowered her hands, "Okay, here's what's going to happen, we're going to call your agent, and you're going to give me that gun. We'll go to my precinct and wait for them to pick you up, okay?" she murmured, holding her hand out for the weapon.

The man hesitated and then nodded, holding out the weapon to her. Avelina quickly took it and tucked it into her waistband, sighing in relief.

"You gonna arrest me?" the man asked and Avelina sighed, "Not if you don't make me," she murmured.

He nodded and walked slowly over, keeping his hands out where she could see them. They walked slowly back to her car, and by the time they made it back to her precinct had called his WitSec agent to come pick him up.

Five hours later Avelina pulled her car up her driveway, sighing in relief. She closed her eyes and sat for a moment, listening to the soft rain falling on the windshield. She was exhausted, not just from chasing the guy down, but from the shit show that inevitably ensued from Federal paperwork.

A knock at her window startled her and she peered out the window, grinning when she saw two figures standing outside her car, smiling and waving at her. "Mommy, you're late!"

She laughed and pushed open the car door, wrapping an arm around Grace's shoulder and rested a hand on her younger daughter's shoulder as they walked up to the front door. "I am late. I'm sorry. Did daddy feed you?" she asked, glancing towards the front door where her husband stood, arms crossed over his firm chest, smiling fondly at her.

Grace nodded enthusiastically, "He made lasagna and we helped! Julie made a mess, but we cleaned it up," she confided.

Her five year old daughter looked at her sister indignantly and then up at Avelina, "Grace was just as messy!" she declared.

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

The girls quickly devolved into an arguing match and Avelina laughed as they pushed past their father and into the house, their shouting echoing down the stairs until she heard a door slam and the noise disappeared.

She grinned and turned to Jefferson, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Lasagna, huh?" she murmured, leaning in to kiss him softly. His hands cupped her waist and she sighed with pleasure, pulling back to smile at him tiredly.

"Well, it's not quite the same as what we had in the other world, but I think Grace likes it better," he confided. He rubbed a hand over her back and smiled when she arched into his touch, making a soft noise of pleasure.

"I poured you a glass of wine and there's a slice of cheesecake too," Jefferson murmured.

Avelina lifted a brow and tilted her chin up to smile wryly at him, "Are you trying to get lucky tonight mister?" she whispered, running her fingers through the soft hair at the base of his neck.

Jefferson grinned and leaned in to kiss her, squeezing her waist softly. "I'm lucky every night. I'm married to you," he replied softly.

Avelina laughed and nodded, "Good answer," she replied, tugging on his hand and leading him in the house. She took off her badge and gun and locked them away above the fridge, careful to keep them away from the children.

She sighed as she stared down at the wine and Jefferson stood behind her, massaging her shoulders, his nose buried in her hair.

"Long day?" he asked softly.

She nodded and told him what had happened, grateful that things had turned out as they had. A loud thump from overhead made her smile and Jefferson laughed, "I'll go put them to bed," he murmured.

She nodded and wandered out to their back porch to watch as the storm rolled through. In Seattle it rained more often than it didn't, but in summertime the storms could be especially violent.

When Jefferson came back down a half hour later she was curled on the small loveseat, her wine glass empty and her cheesecake gone. He smirked and sat beside her, pulling her into his arms, "You didn't even save me a bite?" he murmured, pressing a kiss to her neck.

"Not even a small one," she replied, running her hand over his thigh.

He hummed and slid a hand into her shirt, cupping her breast. Avelina smirked and leaned her head back on his shoulder, closing her eyes as she enjoyed his touch.

As the storm grew louder, they slid together and challenged the thunder—seeing who could last longer, their passion or the fury overhead. When the sweat on their skin had cooled and they lay in a tangle of limbs on the patio floor, the thunder rumbled mockingly overhead, but Avelina smiled, running a hand over Jefferson's chest.

The storm might die, but their love wouldn't.

A soft cry came over the sound of the rain and Avelina smiled tiredly, patting Jefferson on the chest as he went to rise, "I got this," she whispered.

She redressed quickly and went to soothe her youngest daughter, holding her until she fell asleep. When she crawled into her own bed and rolled into Jefferson's waiting arms she heaved a tired sigh and tucked her head into the crook of his neck.

He had become a librarian when they had moved to Seattle and had seemed so happy to be a stay at home dad who took care of their children and worked when he could. He had in recent years taken to writing, and it seemed as though his stories would be getting published.

His solidarity as a father and a man had left her free to chase criminals and become a star detective in Seattle.

"Jefferson?" she whispered.

"Mmm"

"I'm pregnant," she whispered.

She really sucked at this.

She knew that.

But she had been completely surprised to find herself suffering from morning sickness and had taken three tests to be sure, so there was no avoiding it anymore.

His hands at her waist tightened and a moment later he chuckled softly, "Okay."

She smiled against his neck and kissed him softly, "You ready for 4am feedings again?" she whispered.

"We got this."

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. It was a simple declaration, but it meant everything to her. Knowing that she could rely on Jefferson was what had gotten them through the hardest time of her life after Julian had died and she had left the police force in Boston.

Gold had devised a spell for Jefferson and Grace to leave StoryBrooke with their memories, and they had never looked back. They had a normal, non-magical life, and that was exactly how she wanted it.

"We got this," she replied softly, smiling as his hand splayed out on her stomach.

Who needed magic to have a crazy, wonderful life?

Certainly not the Hatter and his Detective.

AN: Well...that's it. I really wasn't sure until I was writing this whether it would be the end, and I'm sort of not sure about this. I like the ending, but I also feel bad that this took so long to get to. I hope you all enjoyed this story, and I hope you will review! Thank you for reading!