Late To The Tea Party [Belle/Bae/Open]

[Jefferson]

Jefferson sat alone inside the hat making room of the large mansion that he called home. Well, at least the home he "owned" in Storybrooke, but this wasn't really home. Home was back in the Enchanted Forest. Back before Regina tricked him into Wonderland. Back before he lost his precious Grace.

But things were different now. Grace was home, he'd found her, and she'd found him. At the moment, she was off playing at a friend's house, but she had promised to return early to have that promised tea party they'd been waiting so long to have.

His fingers curled around the lip of a top hat as he sat consumed by his thoughts. Things would get better now, he was sure. Now that Grace was back in his life. He could keep all the promises he'd made for her. But his gut told him that something was still wrong. That something could still tear the two apart, even though they'd been reunited.

He really needed to stop thinking so negatively. Ever since Wonderland he'd had a negative outlook on life. Especially on the subject of Grace hating him for leaving her for so long. However, that was proved wrong when she was looking for him.

After several minutes of brooding, Jefferson stood, placing the hat down on the desk before him. Enough of sitting under a dark rain cloud all day, he had work to do. And by work, he meant preparing tea for the tea party that was long over do.

Several years over due.

The hatter moved down to the kitchen and set a kettle onto the stove. He turned on the heat and let the water boil as he prepared fresh, loose, tea leaves into a tea ball. The leaves were for a black tea, hinted with some fruits like peaches and raspberries. It wasn't a strong brew, but it was a good blend for a sweeter tea. Grace enjoyed sweet teas.

As the kettle began to whistle, Jefferson moved to take it off of the heat. Quickly, and without burning himself, opened the top of the kettle to gently place the tea ball inside to brew.

He glanced at a clock, noticing he had time before Grace said she'd be home.

He wanted to make this party better than any of the others they had before. He'd planned to make all of her favorites sweets that would compliment the flavors of the tea. He didn't waste any time starting to fetch all of the ingredients, fresh of course. Why buy store bought when homemade tasted so much better?

And let's just say, this would be the only moment you'd ever catch Jefferson with oven mitts, and an apron embroidered with "Don't Be Late!" with a rabbit in a waist coat holding a pocket watch, courtesy of Grace and an afternoon with a sewing machine.

[Regina Mills]

Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea.

It was probably the umpteenth time the thought had crossed her mind since she'd set out from her house - and yet here she was, sitting outside Jefferson's mansion in her black Mercedes and trying to think how to best handle what she was about to do. If there was one thing Regina wasn't very good at, it was apologies. In her current situation in Storybrooke, though, that was not a weakness that was going to serve her well. She'd promised Henry that she would redeem herself. Promised him that she would change, that she could change. Privately, Regina wasn't entirely sure that it was possible - too much had happened, and she feared that she was too far gone. Already too much like her mother. But Henry was the most important thing in her life, and the statement that she would do anything for him was not an exaggeration. So she would at least try to do this.

It was no secret that the Evil Queen had hurt quite a few people in more ways than one, however, and in truth? She wasn't entirely sure where to begin. This was something that all her tried and trusted methods of getting what she wanted - magic, taking control, making threats - couldn't fix for her. And some wounds couldn't be healed anyway. Regina hadn't abandoned her pride; she certainly wasn't going to go around town groveling to any of these pathetic civilians to forgive her. Quite a few of them simply weren't worth her time. But there were those in Storybrooke who she'd hurt on a more personal level, and it was them that Regina needed to focus on making things right with. Doing so would take compassion, and remorse, and a variety of other emotions that the former queen was fairly certain had long since been robbed from her. ...This really was going to be impossible.

Before she'd completely lost hope, however, it did occur to her that there was at least one person in particular who she did feel some level of remorse towards. Jefferson was someone she'd known for a very, very long time, and at one point they'd actually been on very good terms. At one point he'd actually been someone she cared for. And perhaps a part of her still did, if how horrible she'd felt leaving him in Wonderland indicated anything. She hadn't taken any pleasure in hurting him or his little girl, really, but she had done it all the same. When it came to Cora, Regina just didn't think clearly. Cora had taken her father, had threatened his life, and Regina had panicked. To the point where she would have done anything to rescue him - as she'd made all too clear.

But she was still Regina Mills, former queen of the Enchanted Forest, and would not allow anything to scare her off - not even the prospect of facing an old friend who probably hated her rather vehemently at this point. So, completely unaware of how entirely awkward her timing was, she exited her car, squared her shoulders, and headed for Jefferson's front door, ringing the doorbell and just praying that no one else would be around to witness this. Outwardly, the mayor seemed very tense and guarded, as per usual - but a closer look might allow one to observe the way she was fidgeting, just a little, or the way the usually-cold expression in her brown eyes had given way to a look that almost resembled the sort of kicked-puppy sadness they'd held in her youth.

[Jefferson]

Jefferson leaned against the counter as he watched the minutes counted down as the goodies baked within the heated mouth of the oven. He was swimming deep within his own thoughts when the doorbell rang. That's strange, he thought to himself, Grace is still out, she shouldn't be home this early...and she wouldn't have to ring the doorbell anyways, she has a house key.

He took the oven mitts off his hands and placed them next to the stovetop. He didn't even bother taking off the apron, well, more likely he forgot he was still wearing it. That or he didn't care if anyone caught him in something his daughter spent time making for him. Either way, he still wore it rather proudly as he approached the door.

He didn't bother looking through the small peep hole as he opened the door. He was expecting it to be another game of "ding dong ditch," but to his surprise he found the last person he ever expected to find standing on his doorstep.

Regina Mills.

He blinked for a moment, realizing that this was in fact happening, and not just him day dreaming while waiting for the oven's timer to wake him up with the scent of homemade, fresh baked, chocolate chip cookies. No, she was really there, on his doorstep with a face that reminded him of their carefree days of friendship.

"Regina," He said, trying to sound as cold to reflect on their run in at the hospital when Henry was admitted, "I thought you said you were done with me."

An amused, yet taunting, smirk crossed his lips, "And yet here you are on my doorstep, rather strange, don't you think?"

Now this was a curious scene. The Evil Queen who only used him time and time again, who stated she was done with him after he retrieved her cursed apple as a favor now giving him a face she hadn't made in years? A face similar to the young woman he had once been best friends with. The woman he trusted, a woman he cared about, a woman he could have quite possibly had deep feelings for and maybe even lov--liked more than just his best friend.

"I'm afraid I can't just make people that hate you disappear, Regina. Or did you forget already that your little Wraith friend practically devoured my hat when you sent it packing?" He said with a small frown.

[Regina Mills]

Regina kept her gaze steady as the door swung open, although her shoulders tensed a little as if she were bracing for some sort of impact. In a way, she was - she fully expected Jefferson to snap at her, but if he did she refused to let it outwardly faze her. She'd expected the coldness that tinged his words, but even so, he didn't sound quite as furious as she might have anticipated. Still, when he threw her own previous words back at her, her expression became just a little more dejected - before she quickly schooled her features back into her usual cautious, guarded demeanor. And here it came. The part where she actually had to allow her remorse - her vulnerability - to show in front of someone else. It was something she'd learned not to do the hard way - whenever she'd shown vulnerability before, there'd always been someone around to exploit it. But this...this was what she needed to do. To heal. She drew a shaky breath before giving her reply.

"I shouldn't have said that." she admitted quietly after a moment, fighting against her own instinct to close herself off and hide behind the cold, indifferent mask she usually wore. "I...thought I lost Henry, Jefferson. He's all I've got left, and I..." she trailed off, her voice breaking a little much to her own mortification. "I don't know why I took it out on you." She did, though. She was all too familiar with the urge to lash out, to hurt someone else in order to dull her own pain. The funny thing was, it had never really made her feel any better - not for long, anyway. And yet, even knowing that had never stopped her, and...she wasn't even sure whether or not she could stop now. But if she couldn't, she knew she'd lose Henry. He deserved better than a twisted, broken mother who couldn't even love properly. She knew the experience of dealing with one of those all too well.

This was already becoming difficult, and Regina wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to bear it if she didn't get out of the open soon. It felt as if all of Storybrooke was watching her - and yet she knew that this all must seem so sudden from Jefferson's point of view; he certainly didn't have any reason to trust that she was being sincere. She was drawn out of these thoughts, however, by the next words he spoke. Regina blinked several times, evident confusion briefly flashing in her eyes. He thought...she was here about the hat? She certainly didn't need reminding about the Wraith; she recalled that particular experience all too well. So she allowed her head to tilt a little to one side, trying to communicate sincerity in the best way she knew how. "I didn't come here to ask you for anything." It was a truthful statement. She wasn't even here to ask him for forgiveness - just to give him her apology, and be on her way whether he was willing to forgive her or not. Of course, what a part of her wasn't admitting was that she needed his forgiveness more than she could currently really acknowledge. After everything she'd been through, it was difficult to remember what truly caring for another person - apart from Henry - felt like. But she was starting to recall it now, and she knew she'd cared for Jefferson once. Would it be so difficult to do so again?

But she was getting ahead of herself now, and she bit her lip lightly before continuing. "I'm only here because there's something I need to talk to you about. But...if now's a bad time..." Regina trailed off, only just noticing what Jefferson was actually wearing. She tried - really, really tried - to fight off a bemused little smile at the sight of that apron.

[Jefferson]

Jefferson raised an eyebrow as she commented on the chat they had in the hospital. He crossed his arms as he listened to her words, not really knowing what to think of the situation. After everything that had happened over the past twenty eight years, what was he to think? He was promised things that she'd taken for him, despite how many times he'd helped her. Yet, something inside of him didn't want to send her away as she asked to talk to him.

He could understand why she had snapped at him in the hospital. He understood the pain of losing a child...all too well. He could forgive her for that, she was in pain and was worrying about Henry. Any parent would have done the same under the pressure. He was sure he might have done the same in the past trying to protect Grace...

The faint beeping of the oven's timer echoed behind him. He turned his head at the sound and let out a sigh. He couldn't just let those burn after he spent so much time on trying to make them for Grace. He patted the sides of his apron as he let out a sigh.

"Well, if you have something to say, you better come inside," He said, gesturing inside as the oven continued to beep at him.

He disappeared inside, leaving it up to her whether or not she would enter. He moved towards the infernal beeping noise of the screaming oven. "I hear you, I hear you," He muttered towards the appliance.

He gathered up the two oven mitts and opened the beast's heated mouth to retrieve the cookie trays. He quickly removed them from the oven and placed them on the stove top. Nice and brown, well not too brown, and not burnt either. Just the right color for those gooey, chocolate, homemade chocolate chip cookies.

He resisted the urge to steal one off the tray...but they were always good when they were still warm...but at the same time he didn't need a burnt tongue when he still had an Evil Queen to address.

[Regina Mills]

Though she said nothing when Jefferson told her to come inside, Regina couldn't help but feel relieved. She cast a brief, furtive glance over her shoulder, only to find the street behind her empty. Well, good. She didn't need half the town wondering why the Evil Queen was walking into the Mad Hatter's home - and she certainly didn't need them overhearing something that was only meant for Jefferson's ears. These rare displays of vulnerability were very, very personal for Regina. Few people ever got to see them, and she had every intention of keeping it that way. It was too easy to get hurt otherwise.

Quietly, she followed him inside, the only sounds breaking the silence being the incessant beeping of the oven and the soft clicking of her heels against the floor. With every passing moment, she was growing more and more apprehensive. She just wanted to say something, wanted to get this over with, but for the moment words were failing her. Something that did not happen often...and Regina certainly wasn't pleased that it was happening now. She followed Jefferson into the kitchen and paused, watching him retrieve the cookies from the oven. There was something oddly endearing about finding him baking, of all things - though she quickly banished that thought from her mind as soon as it came. Just old memories resurfacing, she supposed. What did matter was the fact that he was most likely making those cookies for his daughter, which meant she was going to have to make this as quick as possible. Jefferson and Grace had lost enough time together because of her - that, and she was fairly certain that Grace was not her biggest fan by this point. It'd be best just to...avoid any unnecessary drama...

So she drew a deep breath, and wasted no further time. "I..." Well. That was a fantastic start. Trailing off after the first word. Regina narrowed her eyes, irritated with herself. This shouldn't have been this difficult. They were just words - but they had to be genuine, they had to come from her heart, not her head, and again Regina felt a lingering wave of self-doubt wash over her. "...There's nothing I can say to you to make up for everything I've done." she managed quietly after a long pause. Every instinct was screaming at her to look away, to seek to avoid this confrontation, but she fought to hold his gaze anyway, trying to show her sincerity. "But I want you to know that I'm...I'm sorry. I truly am. And I don't know how much that means to you, but...there it is." And with those words, she finally allowed her gaze to drop, feeling hopelessly vulnerable and almost instinctively expecting all of this to be thrown back in her face. Needing something to do with her hands, she rested one of them on her abdomen, an instinctive habit she had whenever she was feeling especially uneasy or distressed. After a painful moment, she lifted her gaze to meet his again.

"I have hurt so many people, Jefferson, for so many reasons. And I've always tried to justify them, but you...you and I were friends once. Betraying you, tearing your family apart...was the worst thing I could have done to you." Not to mention leaving him in Wonderland with Cora. She shouldn't have done it, not to him, not simply for the sake of bringing her own family back together - her family was broken beyond repair, anyway. Regina nearly choked on her next words, something she'd never admitted to anyone, and she wondered briefly whether Jefferson was the best person to admit them to. He had every reason to try and hurt her now. Despite that, she ended up voicing them anyway, a slight hitch in her voice. "...I don't know how I got like this.."

[Jefferson]

Jefferson did not turn to face Regina as she spoke. It'd been quite some time since he'd heard words of apology fall from the woman's lips. He didn't even think they still existed in her expanded vocabulary. He assumed spells and enchantments took up their space in the dictionary of Regina. Though, for a second, he could have sworn he almost heard her past self once more.

It'd been so long...since those days.

Though he couldn't help but freeze at the last of her words. A slight pang of emotion moved somewhere in the depths of his heart. Perhaps the small part that still remembered, or even hoped, that the old, innocent, Regina was still somewhere inside the Evil Queen. He bit his lip as he tried to find the right words to respond with, but it was rather hard.

There were many things he wanted to say to her as she began to change, but getting through to her was hard. Especially when she was "high" off of her newfound magical powers. She was turning into her mother and she wasn't even realizing it. He wanted to help, but he was either busy with work, or she wouldn't listen to him. He couldn't save her, he'd failed his best friend, and she'd been turned into a Monster. Because he helped Rumple...he was responsible for turning her into this cruel person.

Why did he have to take that job in the first place?

He used the back of his hand to test the temperature of the cookies. He assumed they were cool enough to touch, but still warm and gooey to eat. He plucked one off the tray and pushed it past his lips. He chewed silently hoping the chocolate and sugar would help the wild emotions beginning to surface within his heart. He then turned back towards Regina, a bit of melted chocolate on his lips, and a half of a cookie hanging out of his mouth.

"Regina," He said with a mouthful of cookie--which he quickly finished devouring before speaking again.

"Tell me something. If you had the choice to become who you used to be before you...changed...would you do it?" He questioned, taking a small step towards her.

[Regina Mills]

If this situation had been a less serious one, Regina might have been vaguely amused at Jefferson preferring to stuff cookies in his mouth rather than speak to her - but now she merely regarded him a bit quizzically. Was he...nervous? Making people nervous wasn't exactly something Regina was unaccustomed to, and she'd previously taken pride in her rather intimidating presence, but Jefferson was one of the few who'd never really seemed outwardly fazed by her. So what had changed? Was it her apology that had done it? Briefly uncomfortable, Regina wondered whether she'd said something wrong. Or...perhaps she'd said something right, and Jefferson was just at a loss at how to respond. It had been a long time since they'd be anything but hostile - or at least rather dangerously flirtatious - towards each other, after all. It was entirely possible that he, like her, wasn't quite sure how to handle this change. Regina's expression remained carefully neutral as she studied him for a moment longer, wondering exactly how to proceed from here.

She was most certainly not expecting the question she was faced with next. She'd never been asked something like that before - not from Jefferson, or anyone. After she had become the Evil Queen, most of the people who'd known her beforehand just sort of...forgot about who she used to be. Sometimes, Regina was dangerously close to forgetting herself. Silence filled the room for a moment as the brunette struggled with a response. She wanted to be honest here. No more lies. The trouble was, she wasn't even entirely certain of what the honest answer would be. It would be so easy to just say 'yes'. 'Yes, I want to be that innocent, sweet, loving girl again.' And a part of her did want that - but she didn't have time to waste on wishing for things that would never happen. She wasn't foolish enough to believe that she wasn't drastically different than the person she once was, or that becoming that person again wouldn't take an immense amount of healing - if it was even possible at all.

"It's not quite that simple." she replied quietly after a moment. "I didn't make the choice to become who I am, Jefferson - and I can't just make the choice to change back, either." All her life, she had tried to be what other people wanted her to be. She'd tried to be the perfect daughter her mother expected, or the doting mother that Snow desired, or the cruel queen the kingdom feared. That wouldn't happen again - she wouldn't continue to be evil simply because most of Storybrooke didn't think she could be anything else, but at the same time she wasn't going to try to force herself back into her old demeanor. She would be exactly who she was, no matter what anyone thought - and she'd never allow anyone to change her mind. The only thing standing in her way was the fact that she wasn't entirely certain who she was anymore. If she wasn't the evil queen - and she wasn't the girl she'd been before that - then who was she? Neither? Both? It all suddenly seemed...extremely complicated, and it wasn't something she wanted to think about at the moment.

"Right now, what I want is to right the wrongs I've done - to Henry, to you, to anyone else I've ever cared about." Well. Almost. She couldn't quite see herself apologizing to Snow at any point in the near future, but she'd cross that bridge when she came to it. A touch of pride seeped back into her expression, and she lifted her chin just a bit and spoke more confidently this time. "All things considered, I have no right to ask you to accept my apology - but I'm offering it anyway."

[Jefferson]

"I never said I wouldn't accept it," Jefferson replied rather softly, taking another step towards her, almost completely closing the distance between them.

He didn't quite tower over her, but there was a slight height difference as he gazed down at her.

"You're doing this for Henry, right?" He questioned, rather curious about the female's sudden want to apologize.

He could understand the feeling of wanting to please your own child. He would be in the same position if Grace wanted him to try and move on...to become a better person...to apologize the ones he'd hurt. Actually, he wouldn't be surprised if she asked him to apologize to Snow and Emma for holding them at gun point... He shook his head slightly, trying to knock away the off-topic thoughts.

"If you need help, Regina, you need only just ask," He said, not noticing that he'd moved even closer to the female.

He hadn't felt the emotions that had begun to swirl within him since they first met... It took him by surprise that he still harbored them. Though, the question in his head, did she?

They'd flirted in the past, but that had escalated into dangerous territory when she turned into the Evil Queen. It was a dangerous game they played, of course it was before Grace had come into his life. But at the moment, he found himself wanting to try and coax out the female's long forgotten feelings.