All of the little princess’ questions were making Jefferson very uneasy. Was it typical for children to ask so many? He wouldn’t know. He had to believe hatter children weren’t normal. And they were taught very quickly to be seen and not heard. Asking questions could get you into all sorts of trouble especially if they were sarcastic and snide. Yes...That had been one of Jefferson’s issues. He had to show a little spirit every now and again, remind himself as well as the master that his will hadn’t been broken, that he wasn’t simply another hatter who’d given up all his hopes and dreams. Despair hadn’t completely consumed him. He still believed that he had a future, that he would find some way out of that miserable hat shop.
But even he hadn’t been bold all that often. He rather enjoyed sitting straight. The master was very free with his cane. Even if he kept his mouth shut, if a hat wasn’t to the master’s liking or he’d been just a bit too slow making it or if the master was simply in a particularly foul mood and needed to let off steam...the hatters would suffer. And Jefferson was a favorite target of the master’s wrath. He never did forget all those colorful jibes Jefferson hurled at him. So yes...Speaking up wasn’t an everyday occurrence, just when he really needed it, when depression threatened to drown him or when for a moment he thought he would be stuck here forever like the others, die poured over some hat in that dark and dank room. Or sometimes...Everything just struck him as ridiculously unfair. Life wasn’t fair. He knew that. He’d learned that lesson so young he couldn’t remember the first time the thought had crossed his mind. But some days...It just killed him; and, he had to say something just to keep his sanity. And then...Some days..A comment was really deserved. If he wasn’t particularly glum, he knew he shouldn’t say it. But it would fester and gnaw away at him until...There was no choice but to say it, to get it out of his head.
Still, he tried to keep his questions to a minimum. (And less than half his jibes were questions.) Snow was doing no such thing. And as Jefferson wanted to say as little as possible and just leave...This was upsetting. The longer he stood there chatting, the greater the chance this little girl would realize Jefferson had an inappropriate relationship with the queen, her step-mother. That would end very poorly for both Regina and him but especially Jefferson. (Regina's life wouldn't hang in the balance.)
“I am a friend as I just told you,” he replied, frustration clearly evident in his tone. Why in the world had she even bothered to ask that? Hadn’t he just gotten through saying it?! Did she doubt him?! He started to panic a little at the thought. If she did...Things would get very bad! Jefferson was a dreadful liar! Calm down! Calm down! There was no need to think that way! She was likely just being a tiresome child! And she was a noble at that which she made matters worse.
Just...Try to answer her questions as honestly as possible. That way she wouldn’t see the lie. And if he didn’t answer a princess’ question...He’d hate to think what would happen to him. He was fairly certain you could be locked in the dungeons for such an offense. Royals could do whatever they wanted to commoners after all. And according to Regina, Snow wasn’t kind.
“No, we’re new friends,” he answered truthfully.
“We haven’t known each other all that long.” As soon as she spoke, he paled, wondering if he hadn’t made a terrible mistake. What if the princess wanted to know exactly how and when they met then?! Regina shouldn’t have many opportunities to meet new people, being queen and all. Now as a result of nerves, his eyes darted around the room more frantically than before, searching for a quick exit in case it should become necessary.
“You don’t have a friend?” he asked, eyes widened in surprise. He was so startled his pale blue orbs actually stilled for a moment and swiveled to make contact with the princess. Was she kidding, playing some sort of game with him? Just what did she mean by she bet it was awfully lovely? Shouldn’t she know? Didn’t nobles have absolutely everything the world had to offer?!
“Played once?” he repeated dumbly. He would have thought princesses did little more than play. Did she just mean played once with that particular boy? But then why would she say she bet it was lovely to have friends? Did she really not have any?
Jefferson felt a strange sensation, a pang of something he couldn’t place. Why? Why should he feel anything but hatred for this little princess who had everything? As a hatter, Jefferson hadn’t really had any friends. Attachments were weakness. Kids died all the time without warning. The chemicals and the despair just became too much and they keeled over, their work finally done. And if you cared, it just hurt. Of course...There’d still been a few hatters over the years that Jefferson couldn’t help but like. But even though their deaths hurt worse than normal, a lot worse, he still wouldn’t have considered them friends. He tried his hardest not to think that way about them both before and after. Regina was his first real friend, his only friend. Although...now they were something more. So maybe he didn’t have friends. But at least he had something. And Snow was too young to have that sort of something. Did she really not have any friends?! He refused to believe that. She was a noble. She had everything! And so what?! What if she really didn’t have any friends?! She lived in a fancy castle with everything she could ever need! She’d never suffered, not truly, not for a moment!
His expression softened when Snow told him that she wished to see Regina’s smile.
“We have that in common,” he told her quietly. To Jefferson, there was no expression in the world more beautiful and breathtaking than Regina’s smile. He wished she could always smile, always be happy.
He was somewhat impressed that Snow had realized Regina was pulling away from her, that she didn’t care for her the way she once had. (Jefferson knew she’d actually liked her once, maybe even loved her. He could tell because of the way Regina spoke of lies and betrayal. You couldn’t betray someone if they’d never trusted you in the first place, if they’d never liked you. The depths of Regina’s hatred was a sign of just how much she’d once cared. All that affection warped and twisted into detestation.)
Jefferson wondered if perhaps things between Snow and Regina couldn’t be fixed somewhat. Regina was wrong to blame Snow for everything. Snow was a child. Regina’s mother was a clever, manipulative monster from what little Jefferson had seen and heard. (He never wanted to return to her vault ever again! EVER!)
Yes, Snow had broken a promise; but, she hadn’t understood. How could she? She was ignorant of the world’s many cruelties.
Jefferson wanted to help repair their relationship a little if he could. Regina had to see a lot of Snow. Things would go better for her if she could like her at least a tiny bit. And Snow was nicer than Jefferson expected, worrying about Regina, wanting to see her smile. But he had to be careful. Snow had already proven she couldn’t keep a secret. So anything Jefferson said to her could potentially get back to her father, the king.
“Princess...” He paused to collect his thoughts.
“I know you didn’t meant to. I know you were trying to help. But what you did was wrong. Regina doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother. It’s important for you to understand that the world isn’t as kind as you think it is. Regina’s mother is not a nice woman. Regina’s actually scared of her. But please don’t tell her I said so. She’ll be angry. In any case, Regina is kind so she didn’t tell you. But she got in trouble because you broke your promise. Her mother tricked you. She didn’t want to help Regina. Regina’s really upset because she thought she could trust you. It’s not really fair to be so upset since you were tricked. But things went very badly with her mother.”That was about as much as Jefferson could say. He wondered if he was wasting his breath. Snow was too sheltered. She really did seem the type to believe in the best of everyone. But still, he had to try. But he couldn’t mention what really happened to Daniel. Snow wouldn’t handle that well; and, Regina would be angry at Jefferson for talking about him. As it was, she might already feel that he’d said too much. But...There was a misunderstanding. If Snow and Regina could somehow work that out, Regina would be happier. And that’s all he cared about. Maybe if Snow properly apologized Regina would understand that she was just a deceived little girl, not an enemy, just someone who’d been manipulated by her malevolent and crafty mother.
Jefferson jumped back at Snow’s gasp, looking very much like he’d been struck. The color had completely drained from his face. A noble gasping at you...That was never a good sign! Had he offended her somehow?! Was he going to get in trouble?! Would he be beaten, thrown in the dungeons?!
He released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding when she curtsied and introduced herself. His heart was still hammering in his chest; but, it started to slow a bit. So, it didn’t look like she wanted to hurt him. But he was so shocked all he could do was blink at her confused for a moment. Why in the world would a noble curtsey to him and introduce themselves like he was someone important, an equal? Jefferson was as amused as he was bewildered. Did the little princess not realize he was a commoner?
“A princess shouldn’t curtsey to someone like me. I’m no one important, simply an ex-hatter. But if you still wish for my name, of course I’ll give it.” He bowed but the gesture was theatrical rather than proper. Hatters knew nothing of royal etiquette. The only person Jefferson had ever seen bow was Rumplestiltskin. And his gesture was dramatic, more flourished and fun than anything royals ever saw.
“My name is Jefferson Hatter.” He didn’t say it was an honor or a pleasure to meet her because he wasn’t yet sure if it was. And he didn’t feel like lying. Maybe meeting her would be a good thing; but, she was a noble and someone Regina hated. So he was skeptical. Still, he was at least a little hopeful since so far she’d been kind; and, she did actually seem to care for Regina. He’d see how things went.
Snow White/Mary Margaret