Emma ran as hard as she could, but she could feel the ground shaking beneath her feet. The ogres had arrived just as the feast was winding down, and with everyone trapped in the hall, they were easy pickings. Body parts littered the ground around her and she turned her head, wide-eyed, praying she wouldn't see him laying on the ground anywhere. She pushed through the stitch in her side, not even risking a glance back, because she could smell them now - once you've smelled ogre, you never forget it. She ran through the courtyard, only to see two more ogres at the portcullis, ready to grab anyone trying to flee the castle.

She turned sharply, running for the wall, hoping to find a hidden gate or maybe even a crack large enough to shove herself into, when she heard a shout.

"There! Down there!"

She looked up toward the wall, and there, at the parapet, was Morpheus. He was shouting out directions to the ogres, while clutching a glittering crystal - whatever it was, it was controlling them. Her heart was thundering in her chest, but she kept on running, her vision getting blurry from the need for oxygen.

Suddenly, everything went white.

Or, more accurately, bright. She was running down the middle of main street in Storybrooke, and it was bright daylight outside. She slowed to a stop, bending over to put her hands on her knees as she gasped and fought for air. A quick glance behind showed that no ogres had followed her, so she stood up, wiping the back of her hand across her perspiring forehead.

She was safe. And she was home. So whose dream was she in?

She kept on walking, rounding the corner to the apartment, and headed up the stairs. She opened the door, and David turned as she did.

"It's about time," he said. "Between you and your mother, we're going to be late!"

"I just need to grab an extra onesie for the diaper bag," Snow said apologetically, cramming the clothing into the bag. "Emma, could you get Neal out of the bassinette?"

"Sure." Emma closed the door behind her and walked over to pick up the baby. He started to fuss a bit, so she readjusted.

"He's fussy," David said. "I can take him."

"No," Emma said over her shoulder. "We're fine. I know all the tricks."

"You do?" Snow looked at her questioningly.

"Yeah, I'm practically a pro." She propped him on her shoulder, giving his back a soothing, circular rub, followed by a gently jiggling hand to his posterior. The baby quieted down, sucking contentedly on his fist. "See? Nothing to it."

David raised his eyebrows and shared a look with Snow that Emma happened to catch. She realized immediately that she was acting out of character - for them, anyway. "I've been watching to two of you," she said. "You make it look easy."

David smiled. "Some days are easier than others."

"But not the nights," Snow interjected. "He's got his days and nights mixed up right now. It's driving me crazy."

"Well, if we don't get going soon, Grandma's going to be crazy, too," David said, grabbing the diaper bag. "She hates it when dinner gets cold."

"Grandma?" Emma looked confused.

"It's Sunday," David reminded. "We always have dinner at your grandmother's house on Sunday."

Emma closed her open mouth, and forced a nod. "Sunday. Right. Let's...do that, then."

Snow reached for Neal, putting him into the car seat, and they headed down the stairs. Once the stepped out onto the street, David stopped in his tracks.

"You invited him along?" he asked, tilting his head to the right.

There, leaning against Emma's Volkswagon was Killian. He pushed off as soon as he saw her.

"Swan," he said, walking up.

"Killian," she said, finding it hard to meet his eyes.

"You two might as well follow behind," Snow said. "We'll never fit all of us in the truck, not with a car seat."

"Good idea," Emma nodded. "See you there." She gave Killian a warning look and he kept his mouth shut, sliding into the passenger seat on the Bug. Emma put the car in gear and pulled out behind David.

"Where are we going?" Killian asked.

"Grandma's."

"Granny's?"

"No...Grandma's. He would have said Granny's if it was Granny," Emma explained.

"So whose mother is it?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Emma replied. "They're both dead."

"That complicates matters a bit."

"It actually makes it easier. Whoever's mother it is we can probably assume that they're the dreamer." Emma turned down the street behind David. They drove in silence for a few minutes, and Killian could feel it weighing between them.

"Look, Swan...I know you told me to stay away - "

"It's all right," she said quietly.

"You have to understand - "

"It's all right, Killian." She said it louder this time, turning to look at him. "I know why you did it. I just don't know how I feel about that yet, other than guilty. You've done enough for me. But I also realize that me telling you to stay away is an exercise in futility. So let's figure this mess out and we'll go from there."

Killian looked like he wanted to say something, but then thought better of it. "We need to find that amulet while we're here in Storybrooke. God only knows when we'll be back again."

Emma's eyes widened. "That's right! The amulet!" She cursed under her breath. "Only, my parents think you're coming to Sunday dinner. If you duck out now, it may raise too many questions and jog them out of the dream."

"Perhaps I could leave immediately after, then."

"No..." Emma shook her head. "You need me with you. If Gold is there, someone's got to distract him."

They pulled up in front of a flower-covered cottage with a lush yard, complete with a white picket fence. A woman stepped out onto the porch, waving a hand and then making her way to the gate to hold it open. Emma got out of the car just as David leaned over to give the woman a kiss.

"Mother," he said. "You look well."

"I look like a woman with an overdone roast beef, that's what I look like!"

"Sorry, Ruth," Snow said apologetically. "You know how it is with a baby - we go nowhere fast anymore."

Ruth hugged Snow with a smile. "No matter. I'm happy to see my grandson." Her eyes moved over to Emma. "And my granddaughter! Emma!"

Emma walked up, giving her grandmother an awkward hug. "Hello," she said. "I hope you don't mind if I brought company."

"Of course," she smiled. "I told you, your young man is welcome to dinner anytime." She gave Killian a smile before she turned and hurried into the house after David and Snow.

Emma gave Killian a look and he responded with a shrug and a raised brow. "I've won her over already," he said.

"Come on," she said, prodding him toward the door. "Let's go eat dinner with Grandma."

###

"Will you pick up the pace," Emma said in a forceful whisper. "I don't need anybody calling the sheriff because they've seen us lingering in an alleyway."

"You're the sheriff," Killian pointed out. "And your grandmother's cooking has all but put me to sleep. She's an exemplary cook."

"I'll be sure and tell her that next time I see her," Emma deadpanned. "We need to get this amulet then get back to David and let him know we've got it."

"Perhaps you'd better walk around the front and go in and ask him for it," Killian pointed out.

"Ask him?"

"I assure you, Rumpelstiltskin will know if he's being stolen from, even if he's not in the shop. And shortly thereafter, he'll know it was us. I'm not sure how long we'll be here, but the odds don't favor us being able to hide it for long." Killian pointed out. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps we can make a deal."

"A deal? With Gold? Are you crazy?"

"Not his dream, love. It doesn't matter what we promise. Hopefully, we won't be here long."

Emma gave him a look. "And if we are? You and I both know this stuff can go on for a lifetime. Literally."

Killian raised a brow and shrugged. "Then I suppose we'd better make sure it's something we can live with."

Emma blew out a stream of air, lifting the front of her hair off her forehead. "Just once, I'd like this to be easy," she grumbled, walking around the corner and opening the shop door. Gold stood at the counter, polishing a brass spoon.

"Miss Swan. To what do I owe the honor?"

Emma motioned for Killian to come in and he reluctantly joined her, stepping into the shop.

"Oh. I see you brought backup. Is there a problem?" He eyed Killian with very thinly concealed disdain.

"Sort of," Emma said. "I need something that you've got and I need you to not ask me why I need it."

Gold put the spoon down. "Well. Now you've piqued my curiosity," he said. "What is it that you need?"

"An amulet." Her eyes scanned the case just below the register, and found it. "There," she pointed. "The red one in the black velvet case."

Gold reached into the case, pulling the amulet out and setting it on the counter. "I do hope you're not just trying to accessorize a cocktail dress, Miss Swan. This amulet is not to be trifled with."

"No. It's the one I need. What does it do, exactly?"

"This, Miss Swan, is a Turiya Stone. When the stone is crushed, and the mist within it is released, it renders the victim unable to dream. Their sleep will be nothingness."

"It sucks dreams away?" Emma asked.

"Indeed. When you close your eyes, it will be nothing but a void. No dreams can exist within it." He put his hand over the stone. "And of course, like any precious, magical object," he looked over at Killian. "It comes at a price."

Emma turned to look back at Killian. "You need to wait outside," she said.

He raised his brows. "Beg pardon?"

"You heard me. Out. Now."

"Swan..." his eyes carried a warning.

"Will you just can it and do what I ask? I need a private word, here." She turned back to Gold, rolling her eyes.

He smiled at Killian - a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It appears your services are not needed at this time. Perhaps you'd better do as the lady asks. Or do you need some...assistance?"

Killian's jaw tightened, and he wrenched the door open, then slammed it shut behind him.

"Oh my," Gold said. "I do hope we didn't hurt his feelings." He smiled at Emma, and began polishing his spoon again. "Now then, Miss Swan. What did you have in mind."

Emma leaned forward on the glass, lowering her voice and casting furtive glances at the door. "Here's the thing...I keep having these...dreams."

"So I gathered."

"About him." She tilted her head toward the door. "I've tried to keep him at arm's length because I'm really not sure I trust him yet, and I keep having these incredibly graphic dreams about him and me and we're touching and his lips are - "

Gold held up a hand. "I get the picture, Miss Swan." He let out a breath, shaking his head as if to clear it from the images she just put there. "And you're right not to trust a pirate, in any case, let alone this particular pirate."

"So you see my problem? It's like... he's infiltrating my subconscious, or something." She let out a heavy sigh. "I mean, just because I'm physically attracted to him doesn't mean I'm ready to share something like what I had with Neal. It's too soon."

The mention of his son's name had its desired effect. Gold's hand went still, and he swallowed hard. He pushed the amulet across the counter toward her.

"What's the price?" Emma asked warily.

"On the house. Our interests are...aligned." His eyes shifted to the door. "I'd be happy to remove him from the physical world, as well, if you need assistance."

"No," Emma shook her head. "I can handle him here."

Mr. Gold smiled. "Well, I can honestly say I've never seen him take orders from anyone before. other than me. Well done, Miss Swan."

Emma scooped up the amulet, tucking it into her pocket. "Thanks." She strode to the door and walked through, pulling it shut behind her. Killian stepped out from where he'd been leaning against the wall and walked over to her as she started down the street.

"Well...?" he said.

"Well what?"

He gave her an exasperated look. "Did you get the amulet?"

"Yep."

He looked startled, then a look of foreboding crossed his face. "What did you have to give him in return?"

"He took my heart," she said, not looking at him.

Killian grabbed her arm, spinning her around. "He did what?"

She broke into a grin. "I'm kidding."

He put a hand to his chest, in mock heart failure. "Don't do that to me. Bloody hell!"

"Oh, relax. He didn't charge me a thing."

"You didn't make a deal?"

"No. I played him."

"You played him?" Killian looked baffled.

"I made him think I was trying to keep you from infiltrating my dreams."

"Did you now?" He gave her a lopsided grin. "Well played, Swan. I must say, I'm impressed."

"I know a few tricks to get people to cooperate."

He pulled her toward him, backing her into the shadow of a nearby building. "You may use your skills on me any time you'd like, love."

She smirked. "You don't take a lot of work to win over."

He chuckled. "No, I suppose not." His lips came down to brush hers tentatively, as if asking her permission. She didn't stop him, but she didn't move to deepen the kiss, either. He broke contact, leaving his lips hovering above hers.

"Promise me you'll never trade your heart away. Even if we are in a dream," he murmured.

"Nobody can take my heart," she reminded. "Even Cora couldn't do it."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, kissing her again on the end of her nose. He stepped back, allowing her to move back out to the sidewalk, where he fell into step beside her. Emma glanced over at him, taking in his profile and the way the fading sunlight hit his hair. She couldn't seem to stop looking at him.

And she knew that magic wasn't the only threat to her heart.

And that thought was simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating.

"What?" he asked, noticing her regard. "Do I have a bit of dinner in my beard or something?"

"No," she smiled.

"What, then?"

She let out a sigh, stuffing her hands in her back pockets. "Not ready to tell you yet."

"Tell me what?"

She shook her head. "Not ready to tell you that, either."

"Very well, then," he said thoughtfully. "I can be patient. It's bloody well entrenched now."

He quirked a brow and she gave him a deadpan look. Killian reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Just don't make me wait a lifetime, love," he said. "Or several."