Jefferson stopped in his tracks, the shock at what he was seeing numbing his mind. You were there in Storybrooke and what's more, you were running in his direction. Jefferson couldn't move. After all these years searching for you, he was finally seeing you again. You stopped right in front of him. You were panting heavily from your run. "Oh, hello!" you greeted between breathes, "I don't think I've seen you before. I'm Y/N." He felt is lips droop into a frown. Of course you didn't remember him. How could you?

"Jefferson," he replied, offering his hand, "I've never seen you running out here before." People didn't typically run in the woods around Storybrooke, but then again, you never were the type of woman to do something normal. "I changed my path today. I needed a change of scenery. Anyway, I should get back to it. See you around, Jefferson!" you called as you ran passed him and waved. Jefferson sighed, but waved back. Seeing you again was bittersweet. You had been close once, many years ago.

"Ah! Our salvation has arrived!" you father called cheerfully as Jefferson was escorted into the throne room. His eyes scanned the room as he approached the king. Soon, they landed on you. You were seated on a throne smaller than the king's. Jefferson knew the king's wife had just recently passed on, so he deduced that you must be the princess. "Your Majesty. Your Highness," he greeted, bowing slightly. When he stood, Jefferson found your (e/c) eyes locked onto him.

Over the next year, your father had asked Jefferson to do many jobs and each time, you would find a way to talk to the portal jumper at least once. Over the course of your conversations, Jefferson fell in love you and you with him, but it was not to be. "Y/N, the two of us, we can't be together. You're a princess and I'm just a man with a magic hat," he told you one afternoon. You nodded, knowing he was right. There was no way the two of you could be together. "I know, Jefferson and your contract with my father has come to an end. I suppose that mean I'll never see you again." Jefferson kissed your cheek before saying goodbye.

That was the last time Jefferson ever saw you. He'd gotten married and had a daughter, but deep down he never stopped loving you. It was true love, he knew, but you had been from two different worlds. Now, here you both were in Storybrooke as equals but you had no idea who he was. Jefferson kicked a rock as he turned to head back to his large and empty mansion. He opened the front door and imagined what it would be like to hear your laughter echoing through the halls, along with Grace's. To wake up to your face every morning. To fall asleep with you in his arms every night. Jefferson ran his hands over his face before kicking the door closed behind him.

*several months later*

The curse was broken. Jefferson had felt the magic coursing through Storybrooke and now, he was waiting at the bus stop for his daughter. Finally he was going to be reunited with her. His Grace. As he waited for her bus, Jefferson also thought about you. Should he look for you? Did you want him too? Were you looking for him? The sounds of children's laughter brought Jefferson back to the task at hand. "Grace," he said softly and the little girl turned.

Before he knew it, Jefferson had his daughter in his arms again and he couldn't fight the tears. "Papa, I've missed you so much," Grace told him when she backed away from the hug. She turned back to the other children that were waiting at the bus stop. A set of twins. "Who's are these children?" Grace introduced her friends. "They are waiting for their mama." Just then, a voice from the past carried on the wind.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, guys!" Jefferson stood as you ran right by him."Y/N," he whispered causing you to turn your attention to the man with the cobalt eyes. "Jefferson...it's so good to see you and to, well, remember you." Jefferson caught you as you threw yourself at him, hugging his shoulders as close to you as possible. "I love you," you whispered, causing a smile to spread on his face. You did still love him. "I love you too, Y/N." He could feel your sobs wracking your body before you finally let go. "Mama? Who is this?" your twins asked in unison. The two of them and Grace were all wearing the same look of confusion. You looked at Jefferson and you both realized just how complicated things had gotten.