Epilogue

Regina was sitting in front of her mirror brushing her hair. Just seeing her brought a smile to his lips. "Regina." Jefferson called softly from the top of her stairs.

She turned her eyes widened as she saw him. She stood dropping her brush as he dropped his bag and hat and started down the steps. "Where have you been? Is that a new coat?" She managed to get out before Jefferson grabbed her and kissed her.

Regina pulled back. "Jefferson." She hissed.

"Regina." Jefferson felt his smile widen as he played with her long hair. "I will answer every question you have and I swear to tell you everything. But first just let me kiss you, because I thought it was something I would never ever get to do again." His fingers left her hair to lightly brush against her cheek.

"What are you…" Regina couldn't finish because Jefferson's hand moved from her cheek to the back of her neck pulling her closer into a kiss again. She thought about fighting him for a moment but for as pissed off as she was at him, she had longed for him share her bed the last eighteen days so she gave in and kissed him back.

Jefferson picked her up and threw her on the bed. "Are the spells in place?" He asked discarding his new coat to the floor.

"Yes always. You know this is my only save place in the Kingdom."

"Good," Jefferson flashed a playful smile as he climbed up on top of her. He kiss his way down her neck, across the top of her breast which were exposed by her low cut dress. "because shortly you will be screaming my name." He moved down lower pushing her skirt up towards her waist. "Which is the only screaming I ever want to hear." He added before disappearing from her line of sight.

Regina gave a moan as she felt his lips start working their way up her thigh as his fingers played with the lace on her panties, before he moved back slightly to pull them off. "Oh God I have missed you." She whispered.

Jefferson raised an eyebrow at her. "You missed that? But I haven't even started yet." He teased before disappearing from her line of sight.

Regina's fingers grabbed the covers on the bed as she moaned his name.

"You are so beautiful Regina." Jefferson whispered softly as he turned on to his side propping himself up slightly by leaning on his elbow. He reached out with his left hand pulling her close and started to kiss his way down her neck.

"Jefferson!" Regina giggled.

"Oh I love it when you say my name with that little giggle." Jefferson whispered before he nibbled on her ear. Love… do I really feel that way. I told myself I would never let myself love someone, after what love did to my parents. But I do love seeing her smile and laugh. To be able to make her smile like that every day would be amazing.

"What has gotten into you tonight? We have done it twice and…"

"I do believe you came more than twice, so give correct credit where credit is due." Jefferson bragged as he flashed her that toothy grin of his he counted off on his fingers. "Was it four or five times, your Majesty?"

"Don't call me that."Regina playfully pushed him back on to his back as she felt her cheeks filling with red at the thought of what he had done to her earlier with just his tongue. "It is almost morning. You will have to leave soon." Regina reminded him as she laid her head on his bare chest.

He laughed. "I can hardly leave if you are laying on me."

"I said soon, not right this second." Regina's fingers traced across his chest stopping over his heart.

"Regina." Jefferson picked up her hand giving it a kiss. "Come away with me."

"Where ever do you want to take me?" Regina laughed.

"Anywhere. Anywhere you want to go. With my Hat just about anything is possible. And then we can make love all day and all night without the use of spells or magic coins to summon me."

Regina pulled back from him, looking him over. She pulled the covers up to her chest as she sat up. "My God you are serious, aren't you?"

Jefferson pushed himself up to a sitting position. "I have never been more seriously about anything in my whole unnaturally long life. Regina come with me, let us leave here, and I will take you wherever you want, and we will never come back. We can leave the Enchanted Forest and finally be free."

"Jefferson, are you asking me to run away with you?"

"Yes." He smiled reaching out for her.

Regina pulled back from his out strength hand and laughed again.

Jefferson pulled back his hand as he growled clearly upset at her reaction. "Please enlighten me Regina, what exactly is so funny?"

"I am a queen and you are…" She paused for a moment shaking her head at him in disbelief. "you are a thief."

"You know I am much more than a thief." Jefferson hissed pulling back from her getting out of bed finding his pants he pulled them on. This conversation was not going the way he thought it would.

"Where would we go? What would we do?"

"Anywhere, and anything we want. It will be a better life than the ones we have here."

"Where is this coming from you have never complained about your life before? I thought you loved your job? And my life here is fine with you in it."

"Yes, this," he moved his hands between them. "us, we are good together Regina. But we can't be more than this here. You hate your life here at the castle, come with me. Forget your title. Forget your senseless need for revenge on Snow and come away with me."

"My senseless need for revenge?" Regina hissed stepping out of bed and grabbing her undergarments, slipping into it. She turned facing him in her little white slip of a dress. "Forget my title I think not Jefferson. I am a QUEEN. My title is the only thing I have left."

Jefferson shook his head and whispered. "You are wrong."

"I am what? How am I wrong? Look around what else do I have?" Regina hissed.

"You have me."

"You work for Rumple, I can't fully trust you."

"I would quit, Regina, if you leave with me."

Regina laughed. "You would give up all your gold, magic, and home to runaway with me?"

Jefferson pulled his shirt over his head before he answered. "Yes, yes I would." He realized he was telling the truth, he really was willing to give it all up if she would just runaway with him right this instant. He wouldn't even go back to Rumple's Caste for his personal collection of spells, potions, gold, or even his fancy clothes. He would just leave it all behind for a chance to truly be with Regina.

"What happened to you? You haven't been your normal self tonight. Where have you been? Has Rumple found out about us?"

"No, it's not that Regina." He laughed trying not to smirk. Rumple approves of what I do with you here in so many ways that your head would explode if you ever found out. "Rumple isn't the problem. He saved me… again."

"What are you talking about Jefferson? Where have you been the last two and half weeks?" She started around the end of the bed towards him.

"I was caught stealing something." He muttered putting on his coat.

"Caught, but you never."

"It was in King George's Kingdom."

"No Magic."

"No Magic." Jefferson repeated. "He and James held me captive for sixteen days. He took so much from me including my wonderful coat, I had to settle for this new one until I can find another one from Neverland. Damn it Regina, I thought I was going to die there. He…" Jefferson started to explain as Regina reached out and grabbed his right hand.

Jefferson felt her magic travel from where her hand had grabbed his all the way up his arm to his head. But unlike when she had used magic on him before this hurt. He could hear himself screaming out in pain as his legs gave out and he dropped down to his knees in front of her. Everything he had gone through the last sixteen days flash through his mind bringing back all that pain. The lashings, the bruises, the hungrier, and lastly all the pain of what James had done to his hand.

As soon as Regina dropped the spell he pulled his hand back clutching it tight to his chest gasping for breath. It took him a moment to gather his wits and then he yelled at her. "What the hell was that Regina? That hurt! THAT REALLY HURT! You hurt me. You have never…. I was telling you… You didn't have to do that!" His hand throbbed in pain like it was hurt again. "Damn it." He fell back against the wall pushing his coat sleeve up to staring down at his hand half expecting it to be bloody and raw again.

He could hear James's voice echoing in his head. I hope it hurts every time you try to steal something, or when you try to touch a pretty girl. Jefferson rubbed his wrist Please God; please don't let that be true.

Regina looked shocked at what she had seen. "You told him we were sleeping together?"

"NO… No.. That was Jack, Jack told him that." Jefferson exclaimed, waving his good left hand in front of him, suddenly being in a Kingdom with Magic didn't seem to be such a lucky thing.

"King George knows I am cheating on my husband!" Regina stepped into her gown. "That must be why he wants to meet with me and my husband next week."

"Regina there is nothing to worry about, just come away with me in my hat." Jefferson reasoned reaching out to her with his left hand.

Regina laughed again, pushing his hand away sharply. Jefferson stepped back trying to keep the hurt and anger off his face as she laughed and pushed him away.

"I most certainly will not be running away with you. I have to find something on King George so he doesn't tell my husband. King Leopold will hunt you down and kill you."

Jefferson was about to yell when he realized; Wait she is worried I will get killed. That is why she doesn't want to run away with me? "Regina I know the risk it would be. You think me leaving Rumple's employment would be wise for my health."

"We are done Jefferson."

"Done?" Jefferson gasped. "What….what do you mean done?"

"We can't do this anymore." Regina pushed his coat into his arms. "You need to leave."

"Leave? Regina…" Jefferson started for once not knowing what to say to a woman to get his way. James took away so much the last two weeks and now him and his father are going to take Regina away from me as well. No this bloody well isn't happening! "What if I am not done with you?" He challenged her.

"Goodbye Jefferson."

"No. I am not leaving. Regina I just …. I just…"

"Jefferson." Regina took him by his arms. "I don't wish to see you dead."

"And I don't want this to be over." Jefferson whispered before he kissed her softly on the lips.

Regina pulled back. "Do you still have your coin?"

"Yes, he made sure I kept it in my pocket. It burned a scar into my thigh but every time it hurt I just pictured you killing James or George and I felt better."

"I didn't notice a scar earlier."

"Once Rumple saved me, he fixed everything. I am good as new. Completely fine." Jefferson forced himself to smile, because he knew the last part was a lie. He was far from fine and Regina's rejection was making him feel worse.

"Good, keep it and I will see what I can do to keep this a secret."

"Just run away with me Regina. We can leave this all behind."

"No and don't ask me again Jefferson!" Regina demanded pulling away from him. "I will not run away until I get what I want."

Jefferson rolled his eyes in annoyance and with a huff he marched up the stairs swinging his bag on and placing his hat on his head. "You are never going to get what you want staying here. You think you are Queen Regina, but you are just a pawn in Rumple's game." He paused a moment and softly added. "And so am I." With a sad shake of his head, he reached up and with a spin of his hat he disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.

The End

Thanks to everyone who read this story. Feel free to leave your thoughts or comments in a Review. The next story I plan on writing is going to deal with Jefferson's twenty-eight years during the curse in Storybrooke. It will still be set in the same AU world as this one and The Ties That Bind Us, is set in. I am hoping to start posting chapters by the end of March.