a mad hatter's saving grace

This account is a little bit different from most Grace roleplay accounts. Grace will mostly only interact with her real parents Jefferson and Alice. However the mun has decided to play her as an adult version as well. You can read more about the adult Alice here

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

“Do you think this a suitable pet for Grace?”

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“I think that’s perfect for me papa.”

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“I’m glad you approve. What will you name him, darling?”

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"How do you like the name Charlie, papa?"

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“Do you think this a suitable pet for Grace?”

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"I think that's perfect for me papa."

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The Meaning Of Family || Alice, Jefferson and Grace

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

Oh there was so much that Alice had missed in the years that time had stopped in Storybrooke. Should time have moved normally, Grace would have been well into adulthood and married with her own children, he was sure. As the two of them moved to the sitting room, Jefferson steeled his way up the stair and into the room that he’d always kept for Grace. One day, he’d known that she would return to him and he’d kept it decorated with all the things that she loved. On the bed, there was a handmade rabbit that he’d given to her so many years ago. Just before Regina had lured him back to Wonderland.

Picking up the rabbit from the bed, the Hatter sucked in a quick breath, wondering if she would remember it. The memories were still painful at times but he was back downstairs a few moments later, leaning against the frame of the doorway and just reveling in watching his wife and daughter bond again.

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Grace moved to sit on the sofa with her mother, looking around the big high with her child-like wonderment. “This place is huge! It’s so much bigger than our house back home.” She turned to look at her mama, “And you and me and papa are going to live here right? And we’re going to be a family.” 

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Alice wrapped her arm around Grace’s shoulders, still enjoying the fact that this was reality and not just a mad dream from her dungeon. She smoothed her daughter’s dark blonde hair down as she talked and smiled softly. She had never wished the life of the court or forced duties on her baby girl, which is why Alice had never seriously considered going to her original home to take up the duchess title. It wasn’t like that part of her life would ever truly leave, because she did leave behind family, but there were always new chapters to be written. To know that her husband and daughter had lived in poverty actually did bother her though it would be easy to forget now that they could start a new life.

“Yes, we will all live together here and be a normal family,” she reassured before looking up at the doorway to spot Jefferson watching. Alice smiled at him and crooked a finger in his direction for him to come to them. “What do you have there, my love?” She asked curiously upon spotting a stuffed rabbit in his hands.

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

“Aye, the one thing that Regina did do for me when she placed the curse was to give me a beautiful home, even if it has felt like a prison for the last twenty-eight years.” The Hatter smiled to his daughter. “We’re going to be a family again, yes. There’s nothing to worry about there.” As Alice looked towards the toy in his hands    he stepped forward and moved to crouch in front of them. “Do you remember this, Gracie?” He held out the toy rabbit to her.

The day that he’d made that rabbit for her was as clear as though it had happened yesterday. When the shopkeeper had refused what money he’d had left to buy a proper toy rabbit for his daughter. It was the last thing that he could do for Grace knowing that she’d loved to have new guests for her tea parties. “I saved him for you. I thought you might like him back when you remembered. If you don’t like him anymore I can buy you a new rabbit. A proper rabbit.”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

"You made this one for me when we didn't have money for the fancy one." She smiled at the rabbit and then up at her papa, "Of course I want it! You made it for me." Grace tugged the rabbit into her arms and hugged it, "But, I am starting to get too old for stuffed animals. I might need a real rabbit." 

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Meaning Of Family || Alice, Jefferson and Grace

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It was not that Jefferson didn’t like Henry. The boy himself was fine and he was kind hearted. Nothing like one would expect when raised by Regina. It was just the thought that Grace would know of Wonderland that bothered him. When Grace tapped his nose, he laughed softly, taking hold of his daughter’s hand and bringing it up to kiss her small knuckles. “It’s of no matter, my darling.” He said softly. “It was nothing that I even thought of.” That was another matter that he was going t have to discuss with Alice.

The fact of the matter was, Grace’s other family had been the ones to take care of her for the last twenty-eight years. The Hatter couldn’t very well find it in his heart to forbid his daughter from seeing them again, nor would he want to hurt them as such. Regardless of what he felt, they’d taken good care of her. A small smile is what he gave to his daughter. “Agree with your mama, Grace. We don’t keep secrets.” He cut a quick glance to Alice, knowing that that wasn’t the truth. Not entirely. There were still things the two of them had not discussed but there was no rush.

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Grace turned her attention back to her mother, “Henry’s one of the closet friends I have at school. His real mom is the Sheriff here in town and she’s Prince Charming and Snow White’s daughter.” Grace laugh, shaking her head. “Henry used to tell me about that on the playground and I used to just think he had a big imagination.” 

“Of course we don’t keep secrets! It’s not nice to keep secrets.”

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Alice caught Jefferson’s glance and gave a slight nod. There was plenty of time to talk later. She smiled down at Grace as she listened to her talk about her friend. “That’s my girl,” she said warmly before holding out her hand for her daughter to take. “Come on, butterfly. How about we go sit on the couch and you can tell me about what I’ve missed.”

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

Oh there was so much that Alice had missed in the years that time had stopped in Storybrooke. Should time have moved normally, Grace would have been well into adulthood and married with her own children, he was sure. As the two of them moved to the sitting room, Jefferson steeled his way up the stair and into the room that he’d always kept for Grace. One day, he’d known that she would return to him and he’d kept it decorated with all the things that she loved. On the bed, there was a handmade rabbit that he’d given to her so many years ago. Just before Regina had lured him back to Wonderland.

Picking up the rabbit from the bed, the Hatter sucked in a quick breath, wondering if she would remember it. The memories were still painful at times but he was back downstairs a few moments later, leaning against the frame of the doorway and just reveling in watching his wife and daughter bond again.

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace moved to sit on the sofa with her mother, looking around the big high with her child-like wonderment. "This place is huge! It's so much bigger than our house back home." She turned to look at her mama, "And you and me and papa are going to live here right? And we're going to be a family." 

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

// new theme and I put some info up about Adult!Grace

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Ew I don't like the adult grace

Mmkay? I'm not judging who you use for anything. I think Christina Ricci looks a lot like an old version of the child actor and also a nice conglomeration of Sebastian Stan and Claire Holt.

I also chose her because there are few pictures and gifs, similarly to the child actor and I felt it was only fair to be equal with both of the face characters. 

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

// new theme and I put some info up about Adult!Grace

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Meaning Of Family || Alice, Jefferson and Grace

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The mention of Henry’s name caused the Hatter to stiffen for just a moment. Of course the boy would tell his daughter of things such as that. That only led him to wonder if in some direct way, Grace knew about Wonderland. Their whole decision to keep the place a secret was so that she’d never be curious to go there. That she would know nothing of it. Perhaps it was only a dream to think that they could keep her naive for her whole life. She was her mother’s daughter after all.

Jefferson came to kneel next to his wife and child and wrapped both of them into his arms. “It is a very long story, Gracie and not one that mama might be up to sharing right now. I promise you, my darling that you needn’t worry about it. We’re together now and nothing is going to change that.”

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Grace wrapper an arm around both her mother and her father, as best she could with her small arms. She pulled back and smiled, a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Will you tell me when I’m older?” She wanted to know where her mother had been for all of these years but at the same time she wondered if it was better not to think about all the years that she didn’t have her. 

“Papa,” She said in an innocent and grave tone, “I called you daddy earlier and I am sorry about that.” Grace tapped the tip of his nose. “You are my papa, not my daddy - daddy was what I called my other father here.”

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The blonde woman was curious as to Jefferson’s reaction, she would have to learn who ‘Henry’ was. Obviously he wasn’t someone her husband was overly fond of. She tucked Grace’s hair behind her ear and smiled as her glassy eyes dried slowly. “Of course I’ll tell you when you’re older, my butterfly. We don’t keep secrets from each other in this family.”

Alice wished that was the truth, or that she and her husband had had time to talk about the many, many years they had been apart. Things were moving so quickly now. It was almost making her dizzy. She had to clamp down on the part of her that was threatening to freak out and refused to do anything but just enjoy the moment. Her mannerisms and voice was already becoming less Wonderlandian but it was still an adjustment that she had to make.

“So this boy, Henry, he’s your friend, baby girl?”

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

It was not that Jefferson didn’t like Henry. The boy himself was fine and he was kind hearted. Nothing like one would expect when raised by Regina. It was just the thought that Grace would know of Wonderland that bothered him. When Grace tapped his nose, he laughed softly, taking hold of his daughter’s hand and bringing it up to kiss her small knuckles. “It’s of no matter, my darling.” He said softly. “It was nothing that I even thought of.” That was another matter that he was going t have to discuss with Alice.

The fact of the matter was, Grace’s other family had been the ones to take care of her for the last twenty-eight years. The Hatter couldn’t very well find it in his heart to forbid his daughter from seeing them again, nor would he want to hurt them as such. Regardless of what he felt, they’d taken good care of her. A small smile is what he gave to his daughter. “Agree with your mama, Grace. We don’t keep secrets.” He cut a quick glance to Alice, knowing that that wasn’t the truth. Not entirely. There were still things the two of them had not discussed but there was no rush.

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace turned her attention back to her mother, "Henry's one of the closet friends I have at school. His real mom is the Sheriff here in town and she's Prince Charming and Snow White's daughter." Grace laugh, shaking her head. "Henry used to tell me about that on the playground and I used to just think he had a big imagination." 

"Of course we don't keep secrets! It's not nice to keep secrets."

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Meaning Of Family || Alice, Jefferson and Grace

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

Jefferson simply stood back and watched the reunion between mother and daughter. For now, it was not his place to interrupt their moment when they so desperately needed it. The tight feeling in his chest melted into a warmth and he felt as though his knees had gone weak. Tears stung the backs of his eyes but he brought the heels of his hands up to rub at his eyes. This was their moment, not his.

It was those words from Alice that made his heart beat all the faster. That she was never going anywhere again. That they were going to be a true family once more and he was overcome with emotion. Of love and happiness. True joy as he watched the two women in his life that he could not be without.

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Grace turned her head to look at her father as she hugged Alice, the smile on her face possibly bigger than any smile she’d ever had before. “I missed you too mommy. Even though I never really got to know you I dreamed about you. I dreamed about you and papa sitting by the fire in our old house.” Her eyes closed as she recalled the memory, smiling softly as she felt a tear slip past her lashes.

“Where have you been all this time? My friend Henry has told me about all sorts of stuff that’s happened to people from back home.”

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“I dreamed about you too, baby girl,” Alice said softly as she lifted a hand to wipe away the small tear from Grace’s face with her thumb. She wiped away the bit of water on her own face before glancing at Jefferson at the mention of a name she didn’t know and as she thought of a way to tell Grace where she was. After all, what did you tell your daughter when she had been told you were dead and had died when she was three?

Ten years old was definitely not the right time for the full truth. But a bit, maybe. Alice brushed a stray hair off of the girl’s forehead as she looked back at her. “I was taken away by a very mean Queen and she lied to papa about where I was. If I could have come home, I would have,” she explained as gently as she could and leaned forward to kiss Grace’s forehead before she stood.

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The mention of Henry’s name caused the Hatter to stiffen for just a moment. Of course the boy would tell his daughter of things such as that. That only led him to wonder if in some direct way, Grace knew about Wonderland. Their whole decision to keep the place a secret was so that she’d never be curious to go there. That she would know nothing of it. Perhaps it was only a dream to think that they could keep her naive for her whole life. She was her mother’s daughter after all.

Jefferson came to kneel next to his wife and child and wrapped both of them into his arms. “It is a very long story, Gracie and not one that mama might be up to sharing right now. I promise you, my darling that you needn’t worry about it. We’re together now and nothing is going to change that.”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace wrapper an arm around both her mother and her father, as best she could with her small arms. She pulled back and smiled, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Will you tell me when I'm older?" She wanted to know where her mother had been for all of these years but at the same time she wondered if it was better not to think about all the years that she didn't have her. 

"Papa," She said in an innocent and grave tone, "I called you daddy earlier and I am sorry about that." Grace tapped the tip of his nose. "You are my papa, not my daddy - daddy was what I called my other father here."

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Meaning Of Family || Alice, Jefferson and Grace

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Jefferson had only ever dreamed about what this day might be like. What it would be like to see his wife and his daughter brought back together. Never had he thought that it would become a reality and when his wife came into the room, he offered her a reassuring smile. “She is quite grown…” He murmured lightly. Grace had only been three when Alice had been allegedly killed. 

His eyes traveled from his wife to his daughter, waiting to see what reaction the child would have to her mother. Giving Grace’s hand a small squeeze he brought her closer to Alice. “This is your mommy…” He said softly. “She’s been excited to meet you.”

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Grace stared breathlessly up at her mother, the nervous look fading into excitement and a little bit of awe. She’d dreamed about her, not full and vivid dreams, but she had dreamed of her back in the Enchanted Forest. And maybe just maybe she remembered a beautiful blond woman visiting her in her dreams. 

“Mommy?” She questioned as her smile brightened and she moved quickly to wrap her arms around her mother and hold her tight. She didn’t want to see her cry, even if her mother’s tears were tears of joy. 

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Alice wasn’t sure if Grace even remembered her and that part frightened her. She had been taken when Grace was very young and she then had 28 years of her false memory being prevalent. However, the sudden lurch for a hug cause her worries to flee. Alice wrapped her arms around her daughter tightly and lowered her head to kiss the top of Grace’s hair.

“I missed you with all my being, my sweet butterfly,” she said against her hair. Alice shifted so that her cheek was resting there instead as she closed her eyes to hold the tears at bay. It was surreal to be able to hold her child in her arms for the first time in a lifetime and Alice never wanted the moment to end. However, she shifted back so that Grace would let go for a second as she knelled in front of her.

“I will never leave you or your papa again,” Alice swore, holding onto Grace’s hands, before pulling the little girl back into a tight hug.

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

Jefferson simply stood back and watched the reunion between mother and daughter. For now, it was not his place to interrupt their moment when they so desperately needed it. The tight feeling in his chest melted into a warmth and he felt as though his knees had gone weak. Tears stung the backs of his eyes but he brought the heels of his hands up to rub at his eyes. This was their moment, not his.

It was those words from Alice that made his heart beat all the faster. That she was never going anywhere again. That they were going to be a true family once more and he was overcome with emotion. Of love and happiness. True joy as he watched the two women in his life that he could not be without.

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace turned her head to look at her father as she hugged Alice, the smile on her face possibly bigger than any smile she'd ever had before. "I missed you too mommy. Even though I never really got to know you I dreamed about you. I dreamed about you and papa sitting by the fire in our old house." Her eyes closed as she recalled the memory, smiling softly as she felt a tear slip past her lashes.

"Where have you been all this time? My friend Henry has told me about all sorts of stuff that's happened to people from back home."

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Meaning Of Family || Alice, Jefferson and Grace

They were nearly to the doorstep when Jefferson stopped Grace and leaned down to press a kiss to the girl’s forehead. “Remember that mommy has been gone for a very long time, my sweet. She’ll be so happy to see you that she might cry a lot but they’ll be tears of joy. Your mommy did love you so very much.” Sucking in a breath, the Hatter opened the door to his home and led the girl inside. “Alice…” He called. “I’ve someone for you to meet.”

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Grace’s brows came together and she nodded, “You won’t cry too will you?” She asked looking up at him with a little smile. She fidgeted with her pleated skirt, nervous about seeing her mother for the first real time. Her memories from when she were little felt like little more than a dream. 

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She was becoming re-accustomed to life that was warm and when a chain wasn’t constantly present on her ankle or wrist. Alice moved about the house freely, inspecting things that were old and new while Jefferson was gone. It was the small collection of books that drew her attention the most and she curled up on the couch to idly read one of the titles that intrigued her.

It wasn’t much longer after that when she heard the door open and her head lifted up. Her fingers tightened on the book in her hands as her husband called for her, her mind automatically jumping to the one person that he would bring. Alice slowly set down the book and stood, clasping her hands in front of her to hide how much they were shaking as she walked to the entrance.

Alice stood in the hall for a split second before moving closer as she saw Grace. Her baby had grown so much and was more beautiful than she could have imagined. She wet her lips as her mouth went suddenly dry while her eyes glossed over with tears. “Look at you, Gracie. All grown up.”

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

Jefferson had only ever dreamed about what this day might be like. What it would be like to see his wife and his daughter brought back together. Never had he thought that it would become a reality and when his wife came into the room, he offered her a reassuring smile. “She is quite grown…” He murmured lightly. Grace had only been three when Alice had been allegedly killed. 

His eyes traveled from his wife to his daughter, waiting to see what reaction the child would have to her mother. Giving Grace’s hand a small squeeze he brought her closer to Alice. “This is your mommy…” He said softly. “She’s been excited to meet you.”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace stared breathlessly up at her mother, the nervous look fading into excitement and a little bit of awe. She'd dreamed about her, not full and vivid dreams, but she had dreamed of her back in the Enchanted Forest. And maybe just maybe she remembered a beautiful blond woman visiting her in her dreams. 

"Mommy?" She questioned as her smile brightened and she moved quickly to wrap her arms around her mother and hold her tight. She didn't want to see her cry, even if her mother's tears were tears of joy. 

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Meaning Of Family || Alice, Jefferson and Grace

They were nearly to the doorstep when Jefferson stopped Grace and leaned down to press a kiss to the girl’s forehead. “Remember that mommy has been gone for a very long time, my sweet. She’ll be so happy to see you that she might cry a lot but they’ll be tears of joy. Your mommy did love you so very much.” Sucking in a breath, the Hatter opened the door to his home and led the girl inside. “Alice…” He called. “I’ve someone for you to meet.”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace's brows came together and she nodded, "You won't cry too will you?" She asked looking up at him with a little smile. She fidgeted with her pleated skirt, nervous about seeing her mother for the first real time. Her memories from when she were little felt like little more than a dream. 

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

amadhattersgrace started following you

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“I would love to!” She exclaimed, pulling back to smile at her father. “Is she as pretty as I remember?”

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The Hatter stood, kissing his daughters cheek as he did so. “Then lets go home, my darling and yes…she’s prettier than you remember.”

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"Do I look okay to meet her? In my school uniform?" She scrunched up her nose as she looked down at the uniform.

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amadhattersgrace started following you

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The Hatter let out a breath. “Sweetheart, your mommy is back…”

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Grace’s eyes widened her face lighting up with a smile, “But, but.. I thought she died.”

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“Oh Grace, I thought she did to. I was tricked…” He pulled the girl close to him, hugging her. “But she’s not, Gracie…she’s here…”

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Grace hugged him tightly, laughing as she did. “I get my daddy and my mommy back!”

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Jefferson let out a small laugh of his own and he buried his face into his daughter’s neck. “Yes, my darling. You have us both back…” He whispered. “Would you like to meet your mommy?”

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"I would love to!" She exclaimed, pulling back to smile at her father. "Is she as pretty as I remember?"

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amadhattersgrace started following you

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The Hatter let out a breath. “Sweetheart, your mommy is back…”

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Grace’s eyes widened her face lighting up with a smile, “But, but.. I thought she died.”

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“Oh Grace, I thought she did to. I was tricked…” He pulled the girl close to him, hugging her. “But she’s not, Gracie…she’s here…”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace hugged him tightly, laughing as she did. "I get my daddy and my mommy back!"

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

amadhattersgrace started following you

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Hatter let out a breath. “Sweetheart, your mommy is back…”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace's eyes widened her face lighting up with a smile, "But, but.. I thought she died."

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

amadhattersgrace started following you

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

“I never should have left you behind.” The Hatter leaned back from his daughter and his smile was shaky. “I’ll never leave you alone again, Grace.”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

“I get to go home with you right? Not with my other parents?” Grace asked with a hesitant smile, afraid he’d say no. 

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

“Yes, of course.” Jefferson smiled lightly at her. “Nothing would make me happier but Grace…I have to tell you something before we go home.”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

“What is it daddy?” Grace’s smile faded and she looked worried. 

[ahatterwithoutmagic-blog]

The Hatter moved to one knee so that he was on his daughter’s level. “Grace…do you have any memories of mommy?”

[amadhattersgrace-blog]

Grace nodded, "A few. I remember her smile. She a big smile."