AN: Here's another little AU I came up with. I wrote a similar one a while back as a one shot in the story Once Upon a Snowing. But this idea was nagging me, so I revamped this one shot and changed the ending. I will take prompts for this verse as well.

Premise: AU of 3x6. To save Ariel, Snow sacrifices herself and remains a mermaid. Instead of killing her, Regina steals Snow's voice and leaves her to wander the seas alone in revenge. But when she saves Charming from drowning in his attempted escape from King George, she confesses she lied about not loving him. He is determined to be with her, even if he has to become like her. Snowing Mermaid AU.

Mysterious Fathoms Below

Chapter 1: A Curse or Blessing in Disguise?

Snow jolted awake with a start, Regina's laughter echoing in her mind. Another nightmare. She almost missed the not sleeping she had done the first few nights of her new cold and lonely life. Sleeping underwater, even though she could breath as any mermaid could, had proved impossible for her. She hadn't slept for the first two days until she finally discovered an underwater cave with a small air pocket. But her sleep was restless, usually filled with nightmares of her evil stepmother or soul crushing longing for the prince she would never have. She furiously wiped her tears away, as she stared down at her brilliant white tail and dipped it into the water before her. She was so tired of crying, but this life was far more hopeless than she had ever imagined.

She had no voice and the few mermaids she had come across regarded her as a freak for it, like she had something they could catch. The Mer-society that her friend had come from wanted nothing to do with her.

She shivered and wrapped her arms around her chest, which was only covered by white sea shells now. She was so tired of being cold and wet. She didn't know how mermaids lived like this, wearing nothing more than seashells tied with seaweed to cover their chests. She supposed clothing was moot in the sea though, for it would always be nothing other than wet. Wet and cold. But warm blood still coursed through her veins, for this tail was simply a curse and designed to make sure she never knew comfort again.

In the last couple days, her melancholy had increased though and her heart was heavy in her chest today. It was Charming's wedding day. He was to marry Princess Abigail in just a few hours and he would do so thinking she did not love him.

She yearned for him so badly that it was physically painful. She almost wished she didn't love him, because it hurt so much. She had told herself that under no certain terms would she go near the shore that was overlooked by King George's castle on that day. She would only be torturing herself, but she found her need to see him overruling all else and she was swimming frantically to the shore before she knew what was happening.

When she surfaced, she gazed above at the cliffside and felt despair creep upon her again. She wasn't sure if that despair was because she might see him or she might not. She was debating whether she should stay there or not when she spotted a flash of someone running along the cliffside. Her breath caught in her throat. It was Charming. She grinned at the sight of him, but quickly frowned, as she noticed George's soldiers giving chase. Charming was running...he was in trouble. She watched them corner him on the cliffside and her heartbeat quickened, as she watched him duel four men. He was more than holding his own, but the pounding of horse's hooves indicated that he would soon be overwhelmed. She watched him stop and look at the water. If she would have had her voice, she would have cried out, as he chose escape over capture, probably knowing full well that escape into the sea might mean death.

She had no time to contemplate why he was running from his supposed father's own men and dove to find him when he did not surface. She pulled him up and held him tightly, as she swam to a secluded alcove that she had been frequenting in her time as a mermaid. She pulled him onto the sand and checked his pulse, sighing in relief. It was strong and he was just knocked out. She stared at him and lovingly caressed his handsome face. She wanted so badly to be with him, but it would never be possible and that made her want to flee. She was so lost in her misery that she didn't see his blue eyes open.

"Snow?" he uttered. She jumped in surprise and slid away from him.

"Snow...please don't go," he pleaded. She stopped and her eyes filled with tears, as he was now noticing her tail.

"Snow...what happened to you?" he asked. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed her mouth, putting a hand to her throat.

"Regina...she did this, didn't she?" he asked, a note of anger in his voice. She nodded.

"She took your voice too?" he asked and she nodded again.

"Oh Snow…" he said tenderly, as he reached out to her, but she shied away.

"Snow...I know that you do not love me, but at least let me help you," he pleaded. Her heart shattered. Gods, he still thought she didn't love him and she had no way to tell him. Her eyes filled with tears and she looked at him with the most broken expression he had ever seen. She grabbed a stick and he watched her etch letters in the wet sand.

"I lied," she wrote. His head shot up and his sapphire stare met her emerald one.

"You lied?" he asked. She nodded.

"You love me too?" he asked. She nodded again and tears slipped down her cheeks. He grinned brightly and she gasped, as he hugged her tightly. She was stunned for a moment, but then hugged him back, burying her face in his shoulder. He pulled back and cupped her beautiful face.

"George...he made you lie, didn't he?" Charming asked. She nodded sadly and then remembered how he was running, not to mention how today he was supposed to be marrying Abigail.

"Abigail," she wrote in the sand. He shook his head.

"A lot has happened. It's a long story, but I helped her reunite with the one she loves and we broke off the engagement. Neither of us are interested in marrying someone we do not love," he confessed. She gave him a questioning look and he smiled, almost like he was reading her mind. Maybe words weren't as necessary as she had thought.

"George didn't exactly take it well," he replied. She looked down sadly. It was bad enough she was on the run from Regina. Now he was being hunted by an evil ruler as well.

"But that doesn't matter. I once told you that I'd find you and this time, you found me," he said. But she shook her head.

"We can't," she wrote in the sand, the broken look maring her features again. His face fell.

"Why not?" he asked. She looked at him incredulously and then pointed to her tail.

"You think I care that you're a mermaid now?" he asked, as he gazed at her with so much love that it took her breath away. She put a hand to her throat.

"I loved the sound of your voice...but I love you more. Nothing is going to change that, Snow," he assured and she felt the tears start to fall again.

"If I have to build a little hut on this beach and live here to be with you, then that's what I'm going to do," he said tenderly, as he hugged her again and she relished the feeling of his arms around her. He was so warm, but she felt selfish. She wanted him, but him living secluded on this beach just to be with her wasn't fair to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing the dejected look on her face. She started etching words into the sand again.

"Being with me would be no life for you," she wrote.

"No, living without you is no life...but maybe there is another way," he said, getting a look in his eye. And she wasn't sure she liked that look.

"Rumpelstiltskin...I'll get him to change you back!" he exclaimed. Her eyes widened.

"NO!" she mouthed. She loved him for wanting to do anything for her, but the Dark One would require something in return and she didn't want Charming paying any kind of price for her.

"And if he won't turn you back...then I'll ask him to make me like you," he announced. Her mouth dropped open and she hit his arm, shaking her head profusely. But he only grinned like an idiot...a handsome idiot.

"I'll do anything to be with you...anything!" he said passionately. She shook her head in vehemence, as she cupped his face in her hands, silently pleading with her eyes for him not to do something so rash.

"I love you...that love is worth the risk," he assured. She thought quickly and used the stick to write in the sand.

The words read Blue Fairy and he looked up at her.

"You want me to wish for the Blue Fairy to help us instead?" he asked. She nodded.

"I suppose that might be less risky," he agreed. She nodded with vehemence. He smiled at her and looked up at the sky, as dusk fell. The stars soon became visible, but the blue star was nowhere to be seen on that night. He frowned.

"Well...we can still call on Rumpelstiltskin," he said. She looked worried and shook her head. Then she resigned herself to the realization that there would be no stopping him and they simply stared at each other, perfectly captivated.

"I love you Snow and I'm going to do this to be with you. There is no life for either of us here in this Kingdom. We're both to be sentenced to death if George and Regina capture us," he implored. She closed her eyes and a few tears slipped down her cheeks, as she realized he was right. She took his hand and he smiled at her, as he prepared to call to the Dark One. But there was a flash of pink light, as a fairy appeared before them. She cried out, as she nearly fell over.

"Oh...I'm sorry I'm late. Blue is busy...so she sent me. I'm Nova," the fairy said.

"And you can grant our wish?" he asked. She looked at the pair with heartache. Blue's instructions had been very specific. If the Prince gave Snow White true love's kiss, then it would return her voice and legs. Then they would go on to fight the Evil Queen with no rest and with their lives in constant danger. But Nova desperately wanted to grant their wish of escape. She might lose her wings for it though, but the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to defy Blue. The head fairy claimed she fought for true love and good, but Nova had witnessed the opposite. She destroyed Nova's chance at true love and now...Nova wanted to make sure she didn't destroy Snow White and Prince Charming's. With her decision made, she smiled.

"I can. If you give Snow White true love's kiss, it would return her legs and voice. But you would still be in grave danger from the Evil Queen and King George. It is a fight I cannot promise you will survive," she said sadly. Snow and David looked at each other.

"And our other option?" he asked.

"I can reverse the magic of your true love's kiss and you will become like Snow," she revealed.

"Mermaids and Mermen can travel across realms. It would be an easy escape to a new and happy life," she said, as two seashell pendants appeared in her hand.

"Then when you find a place to settle, you can wear these enchanted necklaces to restore your human forms," Nova said. The hopeful look return to Snow's eyes, as she imagined a world free of his evil father and her step-mother's rage. A life together, living in peace, with no constant danger to their lives. With her gone, perhaps Regina would no longer slaughter villages and perhaps she could eventually find peace. She nodded and he smiled.

"This is what we want," he agreed. Nova waved her wand over them.

"Then give her true love's kiss and your wish will be fulfilled," Nova said happily. For a moment, they stared at each other, simply captivated by each other and the love so prevalent between them. Snow felt her heart quicken and closed her eyes, as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her passionately.

A wave of multi-colored magic erupted from them and washed over them. She gasped, as she felt the emptiness in her throat be filled once more with vibrations.

"Charming…" she uttered, putting a hand to her throat, as he beamed at her. It had worked...what they had was true love, indeed. She then observed the changes in him, as he now had a gorgeous red tail and she felt her cheeks burn, as she gazed upon his bare chest and torso.

"Oh…" she thought in awe. He laughed and sought her lips again, kissing her with so much passion and love it made her want to weep tears of happiness.

"True love's kiss will break any curse," Nova stated, as she handed them the necklaces. Snow took them and put them for safekeeping in her pouch.

"You must hurry and go before dark forces discover that you mean to escape," Nova urged.

"Thank you…" Snow said tearfully. The pink fairy smiled.

"Be happy and in love...that will be all the thanks I need," she replied.

"That and Blue's displeasure," Nova added silently. Joining hands, Snow and Charming, in their new forms, dove into the mysterious fathoms below, hand in hand.

They found their new forms came with the gift and ability to speak telepathically underwater and breathe as well. They circled each other, testing out their new abilities to swim like lightning, playfully chasing each other, their laughter sounding in each other's minds.

"I've caught you…" he told her, as he pulled her into his arms and flush against him.

"Yes, my love...you found me and now you've caught me. I expect you to never let me go," she replied. He smiled and took something off his pinky finger.

"I think that can be arranged," he said, as he held up the ring to her.

The wonder on her face melted to a bright smile, as she kissed him again. Their lips parted eventually.

"Your mother's ring," she uttered.

"She told me that true love follows this ring…and now, I never want if off your finger," he said,

"Will you marry me?" he asked. She held out her hand.

"What do you think?" she teased, as he slipped it on her finger and she gazed at it, feeling complete joy.

"Where shall we go?" she asked.

"Anywhere but here, my darling. We shall travel the realms until we find one that suits us. The perfect adventure for a Prince and a Princess," he replied. She smiled and nodded in agreement. Honestly, she didn't care what realm they decided to live in as long as they were together.

Rumpelstiltskin watched the pair of true loves swim off together, literally into the next realm's sunset, as he gazed at the true love potion he had made from their hairs. Normally, he would have panicked and stopped them, as they were the ones that would create the Savior; the key to breaking the curse. But thanks to his foresight, he could see that their escape would only further enrage Regina when she realized she was being denied her revenge. He could see that Snow and Charming would settle in the Land Without Magic and raise the Savior together, blissfully unaware of the curse. And so, like pieces on a chessboard, Rumple would shift them around and account for these changes. He could not see how, but saw that somehow, Snow and Charming would discover that their people were cursed and find them. Then...the final battle would begin and he would find his long lost son.

"Things may have changed...but I shall find you Bae," he promised.

The next several months were some of the best either of them had ever had in their lives. They saw many places and realms, including Camelot, Agrabah, the Southern Isles, the Maritime Kingdom, and were even welcomed into Atlantis once Ariel explained that they were friends. They even visited Arendelle to try and find David's old friend, but they were alarmed to find that it was frozen over. They even visited other Enchanted forests and Neverland, though they didn't stay there long as Ariel warned them about Pan. They laughed and loved together, falling even more deeply in love with each passing day. But this was a light, carefree love they hadn't experienced before. Their love was no longer burdened by duty or danger and it was wonderful. They lay together by night on many beaches, often making love in the sand and amidst the tide.

Soon, they decided they needed to make a decision on a place to settle down, for they wanted to get married. Ariel's father welcomed them to stay in Atlantis, but when it was discovered Snow was pregnant, they knew they needed to find a permanent home to raise her as human. Since they weren't merpeople by birth, everything in the ways of sex and reproduction still worked the human way. Ariel spoke to them about a land where there was no magic at all; a land that would be permanently human once they donned their enchanted pendants. It was a long journey and she provided them with provisions for their trip.

With that, they set off for the Land Without Magic. Thanks to all their traveling, they had amassed quite a bit of gold, mostly retrieved from sunken ships, and knew it would help them start their new life.

After arriving in the Land Without Magic on a very dark night on a secluded beach, they donned their pendants and walked among humans again. They found a small establishment, a diner they heard it called, and discovered that gold was not a typical currency in this land. But the owner was kind and told them about a shop in town where they traded all their gold for their new land's currency. They discovered they were in a place called Maine, which was a state in a much larger country. They were fascinated by their new world, especially the motorized carriages that traveled faster than any horse ever could. They found an Inn in the small town and for the next few months, learned all they could about their new land.

They became friends with the diner owner, Mildred, who reminded them a lot of Granny, and she helped them get documents they lacked that were necessary in this land. Since the name Snow seemed to make people react rather oddly, she had decided to start going by Mary Margaret. No one seemed to think David was odd, so he kept his name. Mildred provided them with a surname, which she explained was needed in this world too, which was Nolan. She told them that her late husband's name was Nolan and that she thought it would make them a good surname.

With the gold they had brought with them, it gave them quite a nest egg and they bought a farm on the outskirts of town.

Then one clear night in October, Snow went into labor, several days early and there was no time to get her to the hospital. Mildred hurried to the farm to help the young couple bring their first born into the world. And what a night it was, for the old woman would never forget it.

As Snow screamed with labor pains and David held her in his arms, the sky rumbled with violent clouds. They were the most unusual clouds Mildred had ever seen, but no rain. As their baby's cry pierced the air, the clouds rolled away and the sky was clear again. The young parents looked upon their baby in wonder, as Mildred cleaned her off and handed her to the young couple.

"Oh Snow…" he whispered, as they gazed upon her. She looked up at him with tearful joy.

"May I ask what her name is?" Mildred asked. Snow smiled at her.

"Emma...her name is Emma," she answered, as David kissed them both. This was not the life either of them expected, but that's what made it special. They didn't know what the future would hold or if they would stay in this place indefinitely. But for now, this was home and they were a family. They didn't know what the future might hold, but they didn't fear it, for they would see it as they had everything thus far...together.