AN: See chapter 1 for the long version of the notes. Here's the abbreviated version.
This is based on Snow's comment in season 5 when she asked Emma if it would have made a difference had Emma been able to hear their voices. So what if she had been able to in her dreams? What if she had been able to see them in her dreams every night and they told her everything. What if when Henry came to find her, she already knew everything? How different would things be? This is that story.
I am also going to be weaving in a subplot involving characters from Greek Mythology with what I think is an exciting twist on the past. These flashbacks will also eventually reveal just exactly how and why the dreamscape is possible.
Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, eventual Swanfire, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming Brotp. :)
Thanks for the reviews. Here are some individual responses:
Sara K M: Thanks! Glad you liked chapter 3 so much. I think you'll really like this chapter too. I'm glad I was able to get a seamless fit with Persephone and I thought she was the right one since she was the goddess of vegetation. I've wanted to do my own Charming is fully awake, but Snow isn't stories for a while. But I wanted it to be different from others I've read. As for Tromera, the back story will slowly explain why he's fixated on Snow and how all that came to be so enjoy!
Austenphile: I've already Pm'd you so I hope you stick around, despite the Greek Mythology. There's lots of Charming family stuff ahead and Snow won't have superpowers. She's still our Snow.
Emma: Thanks! Glad you like it so much!
Guest: I love Snowing too! As if it wasn't obvious. I'm glad you're looking forward to seeing Charming put the moves on Mary Margaret, because we're in for a lot of that. He's awake, but Snow will not be for quite some time. So hope you enjoy!
Beth1980: Yep, Gold will find the dreamscape amusing. As for him and Jefferson being helpful, you'll get an answer to that in this very chapter. Nope, David remembers his time in the dreamscape and interactions with Emma are to come. As for Snow's stalker, you'll see how that all came to be in flashbacks over the course of the next few chapters. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 4: Seeing Red
"You were pretty great in that little crisis we just had," Graham mentioned, as he handed her a cup of coffee. She smirked.
"Usually finding people is my thing, but guess Mary deserves the credit on this one," she mentioned.
"Still...you have a cool head under pressure and I was thinking that since I've been needing a deputy for a while now, that you'd be perfect," he replied. She glanced at him.
"Are you offering me a job?" Emma asked.
"The badge is yours in you want it. Pay is decent and there's dental. And your first assignment will be to complete the report on John Doe's little incident," Graham said.
"I think you mean David Nolan," she corrected.
"See? Detective work. You're a natural," he teased. She smirked. Taking the deputy job would allow her full access to Storybrooke's in and outs, which would help Operation Cobra along.
"Well, then I guess you've got yourself a deputy. But don't expect me to wear that uniform," she answered. He smirked.
"I think the red leather is a better uniform anyway," he responded, earning another smile out of her.
"As for your first assignment as deputy, I'll have you take John...I mean David's statement," Graham said. She nodded.
"Consider it done," Emma replied. She didn't tell him, but she'd be taking Mary into the room with her.
"Well...it seems you're fine, better than fine actually for a man that spent years in a coma," Whale said.
"So...I don't have to stay here?" David asked.
"Well...I'd like you to stay the night, just for observation," Whale replied. David sighed and saw Mary Margaret outside the room. He couldn't believe it had been twenty-eight years since he had last laid eyes on his wife. From Jefferson, he learned that she was a teacher, which he knew was something Snow herself would enjoy. But that was about the only bright spot in his her life under Regina's curse. He had dragged enough details out of Jefferson to know that. The Mayor went out of her way to publicly put her down and ridicule her every chance she got to make sure she pushed Snow down inside the alter ego of Mary Margaret as far as possible. But that was about to change. He was going to make his wife fall in love with him all over again and he was going to enjoy rubbing it in the Queen's face.
"Fine...if I can't leave, then can I at least have visitors?" David asked. Whale glanced at him and then the pixie haired school teacher outside.
"For a bit...but then I'll have insist that you get your rest," Whale said, as he exited the room, allowing Mary Margaret to go in.
"I guess I'm stuck here, at least for tonight," he commented.
"I'm sure it's just a precaution. You probably need your rest," she replied.
"I feel like I've done enough resting for a lifetime," he said, as she sat beside his bed.
Regina gritted her teeth, as she spied Mary Margaret Blanchard in David Nolan's hospital room. The way the amnesiac was already looking at her with adoration that made her stomach twist in rage. Another irritant to add to it all was Kathryn's absence. She should have been here by now so Regina dialed her number.
"Hello," Kathryn answered.
"Kathryn...it's Regina. Are you on your way?" she asked.
"On my way where?" Kathryn asked. Regina bit back a growl of frustration.
"The hospital of course, dear. David is awake!" Regina said.
"Yes...that's wonderful. But I doubt David would want to see me," Kathryn replied.
"Why would you say that? You're his wife," Regina snapped.
"Wife? Regina...David and I have been divorced for years now, even before the accident," Kathryn replied. Regina frowned.
"What?" she growled.
"I wish David all the best, but I don't think he'd want me there," she said. Regina wanted to throw something, but managed to keep her composure.
"Of course...I guess I had forgotten. You and David were always so good together," Regina replied. Kathryn laughed.
"That's kind of you say, Regina, but David and I were a disaster. I know you were always rooting for us, but we're better apart," Kathryn replied.
"If you say so, dear. Have a good night," Regina said shortly, as she hung up and had to resist the urge to throw her phone against the wall.
"What the hell is going on?" she growled under her breath.
An hour ago, she had awakened Kathryn's curse memories and the woman delighted that her husband was finally awake. And now she had done a complete turnaround.
"Gold…" she growled. The question was why...why had he interfered? With that, she stalked into David Nolan's hospital room.
Emma wrote down his answers for Graham, as she sported the new badge on her hip. So far, he said aloud that he had no memories. But Emma could tell that wasn't true by the look in his eyes. She had seen her father look at her mother this way all her life inside the dreamscape. It wasn't shy and innocent the way Mary was looking at him. It was that indulgent captivation he always looked at her with, like she was his whole world. And then he looked at her and failed to hide the amazement in his cerulean eyes. He was looking at her too like she was everything.
He knew...he was awake...and it made Emma's heart pound a little. She wouldn't be alone...she would have him to help her wake her mother.
"Okay...I should probably talk to this Jefferson guy, but it can probably wait until tomorrow," she mentioned aloud.
"We should probably let you rest," Mary said.
"I've been asleep a long time. I'm not really tried," he mentioned. Mary was about to speak again when they were interrupted.
"What the hell is this?" Regina snapped. Mary jumped and David clenched his fist on the bedsheets.
"Madam Mayor!" Mary started to say.
"Save it Miss Blanchard and get out," Regina snapped. But David took her hand, surprising the raven haired beauty.
"No," he stated.
"Excuse me?" Regina challenged.
"I don't want her to go. She saved me," David said. Mary turned to look at him in confusion.
"You did...it was your voice that brought me back and then you found me in the woods," he told her and her tensed muscles slowly relaxed under his gaze.
"Fine…" Regina bit out furiously.
"But what the hell are you doing here?" Regina snapped at the blonde.
"Oh Graham probably hasn't had the chance to tell you yet, but I'm his new deputy," Emma said with a smug smile.
"What?!" Regina exclaimed and Emma swore she was going to pop a blood vessel.
"Yeah, he asked me if I wanted the job after we were done looking for Mr. Nolan and since I need a job, I accepted," Emma replied.
"The real question is why are you here?" Emma asked.
"Not that it's any of your business, Ms. Swan, but I am Mr. Nolan's emergency contact. I found him all those years ago," Regina snapped.
"Really? Because until just a few hours ago, he was John Doe and then Whale tells me that you popped in with all this information on him. Seems a little fishy to me," Emma countered.
"I don't have to explain myself to you, deputy. Henry, let's go," she snapped. The boy's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Bye Mr. Nolan," he called.
"Goodbye Henry," David called back.
"Wow...so that's the Mayor?" he asked.
"Yeah, she gets a little ticked when can't control everything," Emma replied.
"Did you see that vein on her neck? I thought for sure it was going to pop," Mary commented. Emma and David looked at her and then burst out laughing. Mary blushed, but then joined them in a laugh at the Mayor's expense.
"Visiting hours are over. I'm going to have to ask you both to leave," a nurse said, as she popped in. Mary frowned and took a sharp breath, as his hand brushed hers.
"Do you think you'll be able to come back tomorrow?" David asked.
"I'd like to," she replied.
"Good...me too," he said.
"You saved me too, you know, from Mr. Tromera. He doesn't like when people tell him no," Mary mentioned shyly.
"Well, he better get used to it," David replied. Mary smiled.
"Goodnight David," Mary said.
"Hey Mare...wait for me and I'll be out in a second. I just need him to sign his statement and all that official police stuff," Emma explained. Mary nodded and slipped out.
They stared at each other for a few seconds and she swallowed thickly.
"Dad…" she uttered in the barest whisper. He smiled.
"Emma…" he said reverently. She closed her eyes to keep the tears back.
"You're awake," she whispered.
"It would appear so," he replied. Emma breathed in relief. She knew she couldn't hug him...not here. It would raise too many questions.
"I know...we have a lot to talk about, but know that we will get your mother back," he assured. She nodded.
"I love you Dad," she whispered.
"I love you too, princess," he whispered back. She turned away reluctantly.
"Oh...this Tromera guy. Who the hell is he?" Emma asked.
"Someone very dangerous, even without his memories," he warned.
"How come you and Mom never told me about him?" Emma asked.
"We thought he was gone...dead before the curse even happened. I'll tell you everything as soon as we have the opportunity," he promised. She nodded and quietly left at that point. She met Mary Margaret at the elevator.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"Yeah...just had to finish a couple things on that report," she fibbed.
"But there's also something I want to ask you," Emma continued.
"Sure," Mary replied.
"That Damon Tromera guy...does he harass you like that all the time?" Emma asked.
"Oh...um, he just really wants me to go out with him, but he kind of scares me," Mary confessed.
"I'm sure he's harmless though," the teacher added.
"No...he's not, Mare. Whale is harmless, creepy, but harmless. This guy is trouble and I want you be careful," Emma warned.
"Oh...okay," Mary replied.
"I'm serious...I know guys like him. Promise you'll tell me if he gets too intense," Emma stressed.
"I promise," Mary responded, as they walked out to Emma's car.
The Enchanted Forest
29 Years Before the Dark Curse
The following day, Persephone hurried to their place in the forest with anxious energy. Mother was going to help them. She was going to see them off to a place out of Hades reach where they could be together and raise their daughter.
But the eerie silence that met her upon her arrival was unnerving.
"My love?" she called nervously. Panic grew in her heart, as she heard an utterance of pain. She hurried toward the sound and screamed, as she witnessed her beloved, lying bloodied and broken on the ground. Standing over him was the God of terrorhimself, Deimos.
"Deimos...what have you done?" she cried. He smirked deviously, as she rushed to Elijah and lifted his head into her lap. She caressed his face, as he managed to look up at her.
"Persephone…" he groaned.
"It's all right, my love. I'm here," she soothed.
"I was just following orders," Deimos said nonchalantly.
"What orders?" she snapped.
"Mine…" Hades revealed, as he emerged from the shadows.
"How...you're forbidden to come to this realm!" she spat.
"Yes...but with the assistance of a God, I can gain temporary passage," Hades replied, looking at Deimos.
"Zeus will not stand for this, Deimos!" she refuted.
"Zeus' time is long passed. The mortals have been getting off easy! They no longer worship us like the Gods we are! They need to be taught their place again...just like this one," Deimos hissed, pointing at the beaten prince. In a cloud of smoke, a newcomer appeared.
"She's right, brother. Return with me now and perhaps you can avoid punishment for aligning with Hades," Phonos, the God of dread, said as he approached.
"You have gone soft, brother! Just as father has! Gods of war and dread,yet you sit above on your ivory thrones while allowing these insipid mortals to war without us! It's a disgrace!" he raged.
"Zeus has allowed mortals to forget us and he allows us to breed with them too...he himself even breeds with them!" Deimos continued.
"He may allow it...but I do not. No Queen of mine will carry a half breed spawn," Hades hissed. Persephone put a hand to her belly protectively and Demeter appeared before her daughter.
"You will not touch my daughter or my grandchild," the Goddess hissed.
"She is mine...for a third of every year! She has betrayed me and whored herself to this mortal prince!" Hades raged.
Demeter's hands glowed and she touched the swell of her daughter's stomach.
"You cannot harm this child, Hades," Demeter said, as she ensured her granddaughter's safety. Hades seethed.
"Maybe Ican't. But I can employ those that can," he stated. Deimos smirked and started toward Persephone.
"Take good care of the brat...so it will be satisfying when I crush her skull in my hand upon her birth," he hissed.
"You won't touch her as long as I exist. I am still bound to you, Hades for a third of the year and I will continue to fulfill my commitment, but you will not touch my daughter or my beloved again!" Persephone said with fiery determination.
"It's going to be all right, my love. I'm going to see you far from here and then I'll find you," she whispered to him.
"My darling…" he uttered weakly, as he lifted his hand to caress her beautiful cheek.
"Oh...I don't think he'll be going anywhere, except to my realm...where I promise him a very unhappy afterlife," Hades growled, as he revealed Elijah's glowing red heart in his hand.
"NO!" Persephone pleaded.
"Hades...don't do this!" Demeter pleaded. The God of the Underworld only glowered at her, as he crushed the heart to diamond dust. Persephone let out a gut wrenching cry, as her love died in her arms. Demeter put her arms around her daughter, as she sobbed uncontrollably. A ring of frost surrounded Persephone, creeping outward to the flora around them. Hades smirked.
"Looks like winter is coming early this year," Hades said, as he disappeared back to the Underworld with his captive wife. Demeter glared at Deimos.
"You will punished for your part in this," she promised, as she disappeared.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Emma exclaimed. She knew it wasn't Granny's fault. The old woman looked positively guilt ridden.
"I'm sorry...the Mayor won't allow me to rent to...felons," Granny said regrettably. Emma seethed inwardly. Those juvenile records were supposed to be sealed, but somehow, Regina had gotten to them. Emma sighed...guess she was sleeping in the bug. It wouldn't have been the first time. She thought for a moment. There was Mary Margaret. She somehow knew she'd take her in. She felt a little bad imposing, but if her mother learned she was sleeping in the car(again), especially with her alter ego right there, she would have a fit. Emma dialed Mary's number.
"Hello," Mary answered.
"Hi Mare...sorry to call so late, but Regina got to Granny so my room here at the inn is a no go," Emma said.
"Oh...my extra room is yours then," Mary said. Emma closed her eyes, exhaling in relief.
"Thanks. I'll see you in a few minutes," she replied. Emma put her bag in the bug and noticed the hardware store across the street. She smirked to herself. She'd be stopping by there tomorrow. She just hoped the small store sold chainsaws.
It was nearly midnight and David found himself too anxious to sleep. Even the prospect of seeing Snow and Emma in the dreamscape wasn't helping and then he knew why when a figure appeared in the doorway of his room.
As he emerged from the shadows, David was surprised by his use of a cane and looked the other man in the eyes.
"I almost didn't recognize you without the scales," David commented.
"You should be nice to me. I saved you from having to deal with a fake wife," Gold stated. David raised an eyebrow.
"Fake wife?" he asked.
"The moment you awoke, Regina activated false memories in Princess Abigail of you as her husband. Thanks to me, Kathryn, as she is known here, is your ex-wife," Gold explained.
"Let me guess, that was Regina's attempt at a clever ploy to keep Snow and me apart," he said, with an eye roll. Gold nodded curtly.
"Well...thanks for that then. You're here because of the message Jefferson sent you, I assume?" he said.
"Among other things. Care to tell me how your daughter knows everything already?" Gold asked. David smirked.
"Oh that. Well, that's because for the last twenty-eight years, we've been a family inside a dreamscape each night we sleep. Or for me rather, I've been there permanently, until today," David explained. A dreamscape...it was extraordinary. He knew of only one being with the power to create such circumstance and that was Morpheus himself. His earlier presumption that a certain Goddess had indeed stepped in to interfere where she could was all but confirmed.
"And Miss Swan...Emma…" he corrected.
"She remembers everything when she awakens?" he asked. The Prince nodded.
"She does...Snow doesn't, obviously and somehow I awoke with my real memories," David replied.
"Regina didn't give you any false memories, because of the coma. I don't think she expected you to ever wake up. So it makes sense that you woke up with your real identity in tact. Drink this, because she'll try to invoke those subsequent false memories to keep you away from your wife," he said, handing him the potion.
"I thought there was no magic in this land?" David asked.
"Only what I brought with me. This will protect you from anything Regina brought with her," Gold replied.
"What's the price?" David asked. Gold smirked.
"We form an alliance," Gold replied.
"An alliance?" the prince asked, after he finished drinking the sour liquid.
"Yes, you help me find the woman I love, we make Regina pay for what she's done and you help your daughter break the curse. As a bonus, you can twist the knife in the Queen by getting Mary Margaret Blanchard to fall in love with you. That shouldn't be hard for Prince Charming himself," Gold mused.
"You want the curse broken?" David asked in confusion.
"You're not the only one with a lost child," Gold answered. David wanted to ask more, but left it at that for now, as Jefferson slipped in.
"Deal. But this place must have really poor security," the prince commented, as they shook on the deal.
"Well, that happens when you put the sleeping dwarf on night guard," Jefferson retorted.
"Sleepy is on night guard by himself?" David asked incredulously.
"To be fair, he's Walter here," Jefferson replied.
"Come on...she's in the basement. Psych ward," Jefferson said. That fact alone made Gold seethe with rage.
"Regina is going to pay," Gold growled, as David slipped into the clothes Jefferson had dropped on the bed. They seemed just as foreign as the clothing he had put on earlier.
"This land is strange," David said, as he put the jeans on then shed the hospital gown.
"Nice muscles. Put the shirt on and let's go," Jefferson said impatiently. David slipped it on and followed them out.
"Do you really think all three of us should be going down here?" David whispered.
"If we're going to start working against Regina? Then yes. Plus there are things you need on a successful team that all three of us have," Jefferson replied, missing Gold rolling his eyes.
"And that would be?" David asked.
"Brains...which of course is the Dark One extraordinaire here. Then there's you...equal parts muscle and charm. And then there's me," Jefferson said. David quirked an eyebrow.
"And you're what exactly?" the prince asked.
"The wild card," Jefferson replied, with a smirk.
"So the crazy," David said, earning a glower from the Hatter.
"Watch it, chisel chin. I'm not crazy...I'm not mad," Jefferson corrected.
"That's debatable," Gold muttered.
"I'm eccentric," he continued and David snorted.
"Fine...eccentric," he muttered.
"Stop wasting time, Hatter. We need to get past Nurse Ratchet," Gold hissed.
"Patience, oh Dark One. That's why I knew tonight would be perfect. You see, Ratchet is harder to get past, unless you have a good tranquilizer, but tonight is her night off. Nurse Merryweather is on watch tonight in the bonkers ward," Jefferson explained.
"What is your point?" Gold asked impatiently.
"My point is that Merryweather will get all googly eyed over Charmz here," Jefferson replied, looking at the prince.
"You're her type," Jefferson added.
"You want me to flirt with her?" David asked uneasily.
"Bingo...there are some brains behind all that handsome, after all," Jefferson commented.
"Fine," David grumbled.
"Do a good job. We know you only have eyes for a certain raven haired princess, but this is important," Jefferson stressed.
"I got it," David snapped, as he sighed and pretended to look lost, as he approached the desk.
"Sir...you can't be down here," the nurse said immediately.
"Oh...yeah, I'm kind of lost, I guess," he said, as he leaned against her desk, putting on his most charming smile.
"You're the John Doe that just woke up," she said, with a shy blush. He smirked.
"Actually, they told me my name is David," he replied, giving her his semi-best smolder. The full smolder he reserved only for Snow, but it worked nonetheless.
"David…" she said dreamily.
"I know I'm not supposed to up, but I mean, I've done nothing but sleep for years, so I guess I'm not really tired, you know?" he explained.
"No...I suppose you wouldn't be," she replied, eating up his every word.
"I was thinking...it's pretty dead around here and since I'm not supposed to be up...maybe you could go get us some coffee?" he suggested. The woman looked like she was going to faint.
"I'm...I'm not supposed to leave the desk," she stammered.
"I know...but I'd watch it for you. It could be our secret," he whispered.
"O...Okay...I'll be right back!" she said. He gave her another charming smile.
"Good...then we can get to know each other better," he replied. She dropped her purse at that and then scrambled to pick it up. She smiled dreamily at him and then hurried up the stairs. David sighed.
"That was mean," he complained. Jefferson chuckled.
"No...that was effortless. When this is over, you're coming to the Rabbit Hole with me as my wing man," the Hatter replied. David tossed him the keys. The Prince had no idea what any that meant, but he was doubtful it was something he'd enjoy.
"Let's hurry," he urged, as the Hatter led them to the correct cell.
"Who else does she have hidden down here?" David wondered idly, as he glanced around.
"Never mind that for now, handsome," Jefferson chided.
The Hatter unlocked the cell and Gold froze in his tracks, as he lay eyes on her for the first time in almost thirty years. It was true. Regina had lied and had her locked up all this time. He boiled with unbridled rage. Oh...she was going to pay. He had no magic...yet so he would have to get creative until then, but she was going to pay. Helping the prince was the right decision. Regina would loathe Snow White's happiness. And with Emma Swan around, happy endings would be restored one by one. He would see that the throne Regina had built would slowly crumble beneath her.
"Belle…" he uttered.
"Who...who are you?" she asked with trepidation.
"We're here to get you out of here. You've been a prisoner in here too long," Jefferson said.
"Why...why is he staring at me?" she asked fearfully.
"It's a long story...but you can trust us. He'll protect you from the person that locked you away in here," Jefferson pleaded.
"He's telling the truth," David interjected.
"The same person that locked you up locked me in here too. But Mr. Gold is helping me and he'll help you too," David assured.
"You're a prisoner here too?" Belle asked. He smiled and nodded.
"Yes and I remember who I am now. I promise you will too, eventually," David said. Belle smiled back and took his hand.
"Go with Mr. Gold..You can trust him," David urged. Gold pushed his emotions back and offered his hand. She took it and they hurried back upstairs.
"You gotta teach me how you get people to eat out of your hand like that," Jefferson commented. David rolled his eyes. He felt a little bad for leading the nurse on, but he indeed only had eyes for one woman. In this land, she happened to be a beautiful, sweet, albeit meek schoolteacher. But inside her was his fierce and radiant wife, Snow White. He was going to get her back and Regina was going to pay...