Chapter 3
"We're still here." Emma stated, pulling out of the kiss.
"Well, it was worth a try." Hook pulled away and the fires rose up. "Is that all you've got? No temptations for us, no wizards or witches to offer us deals? The two people in Storybrooke with no true loves and you just have to flash it in our faces!" Hook shouted.
Emma came behind him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Hey," she soothed. "Someone will wake up each of us. Don't worry. It will all get figured out."
"I hope you're right." Hook nodded.
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"They still aren't back yet." Charming stated.
"So they weren't meant for each other." Mary Margaret shook her head and made some tea for everyone. "Well who else is there to try?" She asked.
"The single women…" Regina stated flatly. "For both of them."
"WHAT?!" Charming and Snow both said in unison, both looking concerned at the thought that perhaps their daughters one true love was a woman.
"Would that bother you?" Regina asked them.
"We had just never considered that…ummmm…" Charming was at a loss for words.
"I mean…It is possible I guess…" Snow just looked shaken. "It's not a bad thing if she is." She backed up a bit. "We just thought…Since she had Henry and all…I mean…" Snow sat down and tried to be calm about it.
"There is one more man you have forgotten!" The Mad Hatter let himself in and smiled at the group. "May I try to kiss Emma?" He asked. "I know I only live here sometimes, but perhaps it is I that can break the spell."
"Give it your best shot!" Regina pointed to Emma and the Mad Hatter made his way to her bedside.
"This will certainly be interesting if it works." He bent over her and gave her a kiss. Nothing. No muscle movements or anything. "Well," he began. "I tried."
"Like the rest of the men in town." Mary Margaret nodded and rubbed her forehead. "Thank you."
"It was my honor." He left and they picked up their conversation.
"So tomorrow we try the women then." Charming stated.
"Yes, tomorrow." Regina agreed. She informed the town once again and this time, she made sure to burn the spindle so no one else could get pricked by it.
Aurora and Mulan, who were seeing each other and who felt they were each other's true loves, were exempt from kissing anyone. The rest of the single women lined up to give one kiss each to each sleeping individual. Again, no one woke up.
"Where is Red?" Regina asked. "She should be here."
"She had an errand to run." Granny replied.
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Killian was exhausted, but he managed to sleep. Even though she wasn't his true love, he was comforted to have Emma down there with him.
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"There are three kinds of sleep," Mr. Gold began, looking into the fire he had built deep in the woods. "There is light sleep; what we do every night." He explained, circling the fire once. Red's eyes never left him. "There is the sleep that Hook and Emma have found themselves in; spell sleep." He circled the fire again. "And then there is the kind of sleep where we enter into someone else's dream." He knew he had to explain that more deeply. "But we can only do that with spells, and to someone who is in spell sleep."
Red nodded. "I need to get through to Emma and let her know what is going on up here. What if she has someone from her past that could come to Storybrooke and wake her up?" Red asked.
"Then this is your one chance." Rumple opened the old spell book and began reading.
Into the spell
For a brief time
As I say
This one short rhyme
To and from
The land you go
And return in time
For results to show
He repeated it over and over and Red fell asleep by the fire.
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Killian was in a dream within a dream within a dream. He felt a soft hand through his hair and could only lean in toward the body it came from. It had been years since he had felt affection from someone. "I'm dreaming." He mumbled.
"In a way." The woman stated. "I needed to inform you and Emma that the entire town has now begun attempting to kiss you two to wake you up."
He sighed and rolled into her lap. "And maybe I don't want to wake up. Can we stay here?" He asked.
"Charming." She shook her head at him.
"That would be Emma's father," he joked with her. "I am Killian…Hook…" His eyes fluttered open and he stared up at her. "And you would be?"
"Ruby…Red…I don't think we ever met in Storybrooke."
"I would have remembered if we did." He stated. "How is it you are in my dream if I don't remember you?" He asked.
"A spell." She informed him.
"Yes…Damn spells…Damn Regina…Damn Cora…Damn everyone doing spells!" Hook closed his eyes again.
"Can you ask Emma if she had anyone in her past that could possibly wake her up?" Ruby asked him.
"Yes. She doesn't like sleeping in sleep world." Hook replied. "But I will ask her. And you will return to me?" He asked her.
"Yes." Ruby replied.
"Good." Before Hook could say anything else, Ruby was gone, and he was back to being surrounded by fire.
He leaned up in the fire land and looked at Emma. "I have a message from Ruby. I am supposed to ask you if you had anyone before Storybrooke who might be able to wake you up."
Emma sighed. "Just Henry's father…" She looked deep into the fire. "And he certainly isn't my true love."
"What was his name?" Hook asked. "Ruby needs to know. Maybe Regina can get him to town to at least attempt to wake you up."
Emma sighed. "Neal Cassady."