Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time.
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 BroT3. :)
Thanks for the reviews. Here are some individual responses:
Emma: Thank you! Glad you like it so much!
Beth1980: Thanks, I like to interact with my readers as much as possible, so glad you like that. Eek...yeah Deimos(Damon) is scary. I delve a bit more into that back story in this chapter, but there is also a ton of fluff. Glad you like Prince Charming putting the moves on MM. There's more of that in this chapter. And yes! I was hoping someone would catch it. Mary Margaret is humming the Snowing theme. Let's just say...she heard it in her dreams. ;)
Austenphile: Glad you like the present day happenings. I know I haven't won you over with the subplot and maybe I won't. But I ask that you trust me and try to keep an open mind.
Barratta Jennifer: Glad you liked it!
Sara K M: Yes, Regina is not having a good time right now. She will eventually strike back. And you're right, she might eventually realize he's awake. Right now though, with Belle free already, she knows she has to step lightly. But she won't let this this status quo stand for long. It works better for this story if Rumple knew about Hades taking possession of that contract and deciding to take the opportunity to get out of it by helping Deimos. It will be explained later when Hades eventually works his way into present day events. Yes, things are definitely more dangerous and you'll see that in an upcoming chapter. This one includes a bit more back story on that though. Glad you like the Snowing fluff. There's a lot more of in this chapter. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 7: Wildest Dreams
The Dreamscape…
Emma must have been up late again, the night shift most likely, leaving Snow and Charming to their own devices again.
"Mmm…" Snow moaned into her husband's kiss, as he pressed her up against a wall.
"Charming...do you think we're together now that you're awake?" she asked idly, as he kissed his way down her neck.
"Mmm...I hope so. If we're not though, we soon will be. I have faith," he answered, as he looked up her, before resuming his exploration of her mouth and lifted her from the wall. He walked them to the bed, as they kissed passionately and she hooked her legs around his waist. Snow's hair fanned out on the pillow, as he lowered her to the bed and she welcomed his weight atop her.
"This nightgown needs to go," he mentioned, as he kissed the tops of her breasts that tempted him from the low cut collar.
"Mmm…" she moaned in agreement, as her hands slid under his tunic to palm the hard, carved muscles of his chest and torso. She lifted to help him slide the lacy white nightgown down her body and he was pleasantly surprised to find her to be wearing no underwear.
"No undergarments?" he teased. She gave him a naughty smirk.
"Is there a point to such?" she teased back. He smirked and raised up to his knees, allowing to watch with hungry eyes, as he shed his white tunic and undo his leather trousers. She sat up to help him, clawing at the ties and flipped him over, as she straddled his waist. Their lips crashed together again, as she pulled his pants down past his hips. He helped her rid him of the offending garments and then flipped her over again, pinning her beneath his firm, naked body. He caressed her face lovingly and she gasped, feeling him pressing against her.
"Charming…" she murmured.
"Yes, my darling?" he asked back.
"Make love to me," she pleaded. He smiled.
"That's the plan," he responded. And then they knew nothing but pleasure and ecstasy.
Mary Margaret Blanchard gasped, as she was startled awake in her darkened loft. She glanced at the clock, seeing it was only two in the morning. She sighed and fell back to the pillow. Her entire body was trembling, her skin slick with perspiration. And she was...aroused. The vivid dream she was having was a bit fuzzy, but there was no question as to the type of dream she was having. Or who she was having it with. Her cheeks were burning, as she recalled the sensations of the dream. She didn't remember any words, but she remembered him. She was having a sex dream...with David. She put a hand over her face, almost embarrassed at herself. But then she couldn't help the grin that eclipsed her face, because it was a really good sex dream. She giggled and decided she probably needed a cold shower. However, she found herself drifting off again, as if the dream was calling her back.
The Underworld
Approximately 28 years before the Dark Curse
Persephone's screams echoed in Hades' chambers, as her labor reached the pinnacle. The God of the Underworld waited impatiently. He couldn't dispose of the child; Demeter had made sure her protection spell prevented him from laying a hand on her. But Deimos was another story and he appeared next to him, ready to feed on the newborn's immortal blood and then toss it into the river of lost souls. In the months since Deimos had become a vampire-like being, the influx of new souls to the Underworld had pleased Hades immensely. Vampires were difficult to stop. It was why Zeus forbade their creation when the Gods eradicated them centuries ago. But Deimos was not so easily stopped, much to Hades glee. And he never created more vampires, just left death in his wake. His immortality was contingent on his feasting on mortal blood. If he did not, then his immortality would fade, for he was not the typical vampire of old. The Gods had fixed that. They didn't want mortals seeking immortality.
With the grail, that had been an easy solution. Any unworthy of its power had been turned to dust upon touching it. Then when the one worthy of its power finally found it, its power was granted to him. But Merlin, the now wizard that had been deemed worthy of the grail, soon realized the tether his immortality had.
Love for a woman seeking power of her own led to the creation of the Dark One and the breaking of Excalibur. Many Dark Ones followed the first, Nimue, and that had resulted in an army of mercenaries at one time to do the Dark One's bidding. Vampires had always made the best soldiers. Immortal, nearly unstoppable, and left death in their wake. But mortals had found ways to kill them eventually, much to the delight and impress of the Gods on Mount Olympus.
They had forged weapons of silver, such as stakes, blades, and arrows to take them down. Zeus was so impressed by their ingenuity and war on what he considered the scourge of the Earth that he bestowed the lands with plentiful silver deposits to aide the battle. But man did not quite get the edge on the vampires until it was discovered that another creature, another monster rather, could also kill them. Werewolves, of which only a small coven existed at the time.
Unfortunately, the outcome of that war ended with humans shunning werewolves as well, for one unable to control the transformation slaughtered villages in ignorance.
At that point, Zeus had stepped in. He ordered Hephaestus to forge his lightning bolts with silver and eradicated all remaining vampires throughout the realms.
So Deimos'' new immortal state was troublesome to say the least.
"She'll make a tasty morsel," he commented. Hades smirked, as his wife sobbed while she gave birth. An arrow sailed past the God and was caught by Deimos, who glowered at Athena.
"Really? Do you think a silver arrow can really stop me? I've built an immunity to the poisons of silver," he goaded.
"I know. One silver arrow can't undo you. That's why I coated the shaft of the arrow in squid ink," Athena stated. Deimos snarled, as he realized he could not move.
Demeter put her arms around Persephone, as she birthed her daughter. Athena cleaned her off and wrapped her in a blanket Demeter made herself.
"Oh...aren't you the fairest one there ever was," Demeter said, as tears streamed down her daughter's face and the baby was placed in her arms.
"She's perfect," Persephone sobbed.
"She's a halfbreed spawn," Hades countered in disgust.
"I will see to her destruction when I'm freed," Deimos promised. Persephone sniffed and kissed her baby's head.
"Mother...you must go. Take her, hide her where they can never find her, like we planned," the Goddess pleaded.
"That child will not leave the Underworld!" Hades hissed. Persephone ignored him.
"I love you my little snowdrop, but I have to give you your best chance. And that's not with me. You will be the fairest in all the lands and do wonderful things," Persephone said, as she willed her daughter's name to her mother telepathically.
"Oh...a perfect name," Demeter mentioned, as she took the baby. And she was gone, as Persephone sobbed uncontrollably, setting off yet another fierce snowstorm, for Persephone's grief had set forth the harshest winter any realm had ever seen.
Belle awoke in the soft comfort of the bed. It was so different than all the mornings she had awakened in the small, dank cell. She had no idea why she had even been there or how long. Her memory was blank and she knew only what others had told her. The man that had taken her in, Mr. Gold, said the Mayor had locked her up for reasons he hadn't divulged.
Normally, she would have been hesitant to trust anyone, but the other man, David had insisted she could trust Mr. Gold. Something about the other patient told her that she could take his word. And Mr. Gold had been nothing but kind to her, insisting that someday soon, she would remember everything.
For now, she was both nervous and anxious this morning, as she cleaned up for the day. Mr. Gold was taking her out for breakfast at her request. They had almost gone to Granny's the night before, but he seemed so nervous about it that she had suggested getting takeout again.
They were both still nervous about it, but he said he wouldn't deny her desire to rejoin society if that's what she really wanted any longer. Belle may not have remembered exactly who she had been before she was locked up, but she was intent on making new memories.
That morning, Mary Margaret rushed around the apartment. She fumbled with her clothes, as Emma nursed a cup of coffee. She skidded to the door and grabbed her scarf. Emma watched in amusement, as her mother then ran back to the bathroom to spit the toothpaste in the sink and rinse the brush.
"Hot date?" Emma teased.
"Oh...I'm, um, meeting David for coffee this morning at the diner," Mary said, as her cheeks were tinted pink.
"Clearly," Emma teased. Mary sighed.
"Am I being stupid?" she asked. Emma realized her error. Her mother's self confidence was still minimal at best right now.
"No...not at all. You're just...cute," Emma clarified. Mary smiled shyly.
"Thanks. I guess I'll see you later?" she asked. Emma nodded.
"Say hi to David for me," she replied. Mary Margaret smiled and hurried out.
Ruby huffed in annoyance, as she bustled around the diner, delivering morning meals and coffee. She was used to them being busy during meal time rushes, but this seemed different. It was usually manageable, but this morning, the diner was packed. It was like the sleepy little town suddenly woke up.
"Order up!" Granny called again. Ruby picked it up and delivered it to the table, which gave her pause. Granny must have taken this order, because she certainly would have remembered taking Mr. Gold's order. What was more, she would have certainly remembered taking Mr. Gold's order and his guest. Not only did Mr. Gold almost never frequent the diner, he also never kept the company of anyone. So to see him with a beautiful, young woman was a bit jarring. She set the plates of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon down in front of her customers.
"Thank you...it looks delicious," Belle said gratefully.
"It is...I'm sorry, but I don't think I've seen you around here," Ruby replied.
"Oh...I've been a patient in the hospital for a long time," Belle admitted with a wince.
"That's awful," Ruby replied.
"If you're done, Ms. Lucas, we'd like to enjoy our breakfast in peace," Gold said. Ruby rolled her eyes and stalked off.
"That wasn't very nice," Belle commented. He sighed.
"People are nosy. Your life is none of their business," he replied.
"I want to make friends," she said.
"Just be careful with who. You can't trust everyone," he warned. She gave him a long look and then started eating. It was definitely delicious, but she was sure anything would compared to the tasteless oatmeal she was fed for breakfast in the psychiatric ward. As they enjoyed their meal, she looked up and saw a familiar face. David came into the diner with a pixie haired woman and they were positively beaming at each other. Belle didn't remember much, but she knew two people in love when she saw it.
The other couple found a table and rather than sitting across from each other, they chose instead to sit side by side. Their heads were close, as they whispered to each other, almost forgetting to look up when Ruby came to take their order. Seeing such obvious love gave Belle hope and as she glanced at the man across the table from her, she couldn't help but wonder or perhaps hope that their was love in her own future.
"The woman with Mr. Gold...is that the one you said was locked up in the basement of the hospital?" Mary Margaret asked curiously. He nodded.
"She doesn't have any memories, but Mr. Gold thought she was dead," he explained.
"How awful. I can't believe all this time someone was being imprisoned in the hospital," she said.
"I think there's a lot more going on in this small town than any of us know," he mentioned. She glanced at him and bit her bottom lip.
"Do you think Regina knew about it?" she whispered.
"She's the Mayor...I don't think a lot goes on in this town without her knowing," he replied quietly. The Mayor chose that moment to enter the diner with her son and her gaze swept over all of them like a Queen observing her subjects with scrutiny. Her glower on them in particular made Mary Margaret shiver, but she didn't miss the daggers she was shooting Mr. Gold either. She wondered how someone could want to keep two people that wanted to be together apart. One look from her made it clear though. She didn't want her with David and Mary couldn't figure out why she would care. Even more perplexing though is to why Regina might risk crossing someone like Mr. Gold, if for no other reason, than to keep him from someone he loved.
"I just don't understand what she gets from trying to keep people apart," Mary Margaret mentioned.
"I think she's unhappy, so she wants everyone else to be unhappy too. But you know, I think that if two people want to be together and are meant to be together...they'll always find each other, no matter what," he told her, looking into her eyes. She smiled and felt like melting under his gaze. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, despite being able to practically feel the fiery rage in Regina's glare upon them. He didn't give a damn. The Queen wasn't going to keep them apart any longer. As their lips parted, they smiled at each other.
"I suppose I better get to school," Mary said quietly.
"Yeah...I better get to the animal shelter for my first day," he replied.
"But tonight…" she said tentatively.
"Yeah...I'll see you tonight," he replied, as they paid their check and walked toward the door.
"Oh David…" Belle called and they turned back.
"I just wanted to say thank you, you know, for helping get me out of that place the other night," she said. He smiled.
"You're welcome...glad to see you're doing well," he said, sharing a curt nod with Gold.
"I am," she agreed, as she looked shyly at Gold.
"Oh...this is Mary Margaret, my w...girlfriend," he said, catching himself. He loved the smile that spread across Mary's face at the world girlfriend though.
"It's lovely to meet you," Mary said.
"You too Mary," Belle replied, as they walked outside and parted ways for the day with a kiss.
When Graham entered the station that morning, Emma was noticeably standoffish. Even the bag with the bear claw he had bought for her this morning remained untouched. After two hours of silence and paperwork, he couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay...what's going on?" Graham asked.
"No idea what you mean," Emma replied quickly.
"Yes, you do. You've been giving me the cold shoulder since I got here," he countered.
"Just not in the mood for small talk," she replied, as she put the finished paperwork in the tray to be filed and the grabbed her jacket.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Since it's quiet, I'm going to go grab lunch," she replied vaguely.
"Emma...please, talk to me," Graham pleaded.
"And say what?" she snapped.
"At least tell me what I did that has you so pissed off," he snapped back.
"You want to know what pisses me off? How about you lying to me? How about you sneaking around behind my back? You know, if you wanted the night off so you can go screw the Mayor, then just tell me! Though I'd prefer it if you didn't do it with my son in the house!" she growled. His frustration deflated and was replaced with shame.
"You know?" he asked quietly.
"It doesn't matter, like I care," she replied, as she stalked out, leaving the ashamed Sheriff behind.
Mary nibbled at her sandwich, while grading papers. She smiled fondly, watching her students play outside the window at recess. She took another item out of her paper bag and saw a folded slip of paper fall out. She opened the note and a smile eclipsed her face. David must have slipped it into her bag without her noticing this morning.
"Mary,
I hope this note finds you well and lets you know that I'm thinking about you. From the moment I awoke from that coma, you're the only thing in my life that's made a lick of sense. I can't wait to see you tonight, for I've thought of nothing but holding you in my arms and kissing you again. Until tonight, my darling Mary,
David."
She was pretty sure she was blushing now and his words made her feel like she was floating. Just a few days ago, her existence had been so lonely. But now there was David and Emma...and she felt like she had family for the first time she could remember.
She was snapped from her trance, when her students started filing back into the classroom. She smiled and tucked the rest of her uneaten lunch away, as they took their seats. She noticed Henry coming toward her with his book tucked under one arm and felt a fondness for him. She knew teachers weren't supposed to play favorites, but she couldn't help it with Henry. She felt a connection to him that she couldn't quite make sense of. He was such a sweet boy, so full of imagination and restored hope now. She had never imagined that could happen when she had given him a simple book of fairy tales.
"I picked these for you, Miss Blanchard," he said, as he handed her a fistful of snowdrops. Such an action would garner him mocking from his peers, but he didn't seem to care and Mary smiled at him.
"Thank you Henry, they're lovely. How did you know snowdrops are my favorite?" she asked. He smiled.
"Just a lucky guess," he replied, as he took his seat. She found a glass and filled it with water for the flowers, before setting them on her desk. And with that, she began her afternoon lesson with a contagious smile on her face.
Emma found him out back of the shelter, walking a beautiful collie.
"Hey…" Emma called, as she found him on the wooded trail.
"Emma…" he said, pleasantly surprise. The dog wagged its tail and eagerly went to Emma, as she knelt down.
"Hey there," she cooed and David smiled, as she pet him.
"This is Wilby. He was mine, back in the Enchanted Forest," David mentioned.
"I didn't know you had a dog," she replied.
"On the farm, I did. Unfortunately, one particularly hard winter, we had to trade him for food. It was a bad harvest and we had no choice. It nearly killed me, so imagine my surprise when I found him here in the shelter this morning," David said.
"I'm sorry Dad," she replied.
"It's okay. It was shortly before George needed me to replace my brother and then I met your mother. Didn't think I'd ever see him again, so I'm going to adopt him," David said.
"I figure my family will love him as much as I do," he added.
"We will," she agreed.
"Emma...what's wrong?" he asked. She sighed.
"Can anyone see us back here?" she asked.
"No...we can speak freely," he replied.
"Good, because I think I just need my Dad right now and not a friend," she said, swallowing thickly.
"Oh Emma…" he said, as he hugged her and cradled her head.
"You're not alone anymore, princess," he promised.
"I feel so silly...I'm twenty-eight," she mentioned.
"Well, I hope you're never too old to need me," he replied.
"I'm so proud of you, Emma. You are so strong and brave," he told her. She laughed.
"I don't know about that," she refuted.
"Well, I do. I heard about you chopping down Regina's tree, you know," he said with a big grin. She chuckled.
"Yeah...she got me back though," Emma said. He frowned
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Nothing...it's kind of weird to talk about with you," she mentioned.
"Em…" he prompted. She sighed.
"I saw Graham sneaking out of her house last night," she told him.
"Oh...oh…," he said, getting what she meant.
"Yeah," she replied.
"So...you like Graham," he stated with unease.
"I told you this was weird," she whined. He chuckled.
"Yeah, this is the kind of talk I always wanted to leave to your mother. It's not easy for me to think of you with anyone," he said.
"Still...I wonder," he mentioned.
"What?" she asked.
"Well...back in our land, the Queen had Graham's heart," he replied.
"And you think she still has it?" Emma asked.
"I'm not making light of him hurting you, but it's possible," he replied. Emma was silent in thought for a moment.
"If she has his heart, where would she keep it?" Emma asked curiously.
"She used to always have it close. But she also had many other hearts. Snow said there was a vault in her castle. Cora had it built after Regina married Snow's father. It had a wall full of small compartments, most containing beating hearts. Some Cora took and later ones Regina took. Snow said she could never shake the memory of the way that vault sounded," he mentioned. Her mother was so strong and brave. Her father loved to regale those tales to her and had all her life in the dreamscape. And that made it hard to remember all the trauma her mother had experienced in her life. But that reminded her of something else.
"Can you tell me about this Damon guy? Why is he obsessed with Mom? Who was he?" she asked. He sighed.
"That's a very long story," he began.
"I've got time," she replied, as they started walking Wilby deeper into the woods.
"Back in our land, he was Deimos, son of Ares and Aphrodite," David revealed. Emma's eyes widened.
"He's a God?" she asked in disbelief.
"He was, the God of Terror to be exact, but according to the story we were told, Zeus punished him after he sided with Hades and tried to unseat Zeus. He immortality was nullified and he was cast from Olympus. In his anger, he sought a way to restore his immortality," David explained.
"Which is how?" Emma asked.
"In the only way a mortal can become immortal. He became a vampire...sort of," David replied.
"Of course he did," Emma deadpanned.
"Wait...what do you mean sort of? How do you sort of become a vampire?" she asked.
"It's impossible to become a real one anymore. Long ago, before any of us were born, humans were at war with vampires. There was coven after coven and humans were under siege. They were either being turned into vampires or turned into meals. Humans fought back," David said.
"With silver stakes and garlic and stuff like that?" Emma asked. David smiled.
"The garlic is a myth, but the silver is true. Humans started developing silver stakes and silver tipped arrows. It was said one of the greatest warriors, Van Helsing, was gifted his knowledge that silver and fire would kill them by the Gods themselves," David explained.
"So the Gods wanted vampires to be destroyed?" Emma asked. He nodded.
"They were out of control and posed a threat to all and their quantity started to rival the Gods in numbers. It was discovered that werewolves could also kill them and shaky alliance between them and humans was born," David explained.
"Did they win?" Emma asked.
"No...it was just too easy for them to replenish their numbers. They just had to turn more mortals. So Zeus himself decided to eradicate the problem completely," David replied.
"How did he do that?" Emma asked.
"He had Hephaestus craft silver lightning bolts for him and struck down every single last one of them," he replied.
"Then how did this Deimos become one?" she asked.
"Hades sent him to Rumpelstiltskin. Apparently he owed the God of the Underworld a favor and Hades very much wanted Deimos to be able to continue to be his minion. So the Dark One didn't have much choice and gave Deimos the very last known Ambrosia leaves. He brewed a tea and Deimos drank it," he replied.
"And what's special about this Ambrosia?" she asked.
"It can grant immortality when ingested, but there's a catch," he replied. She snorted.
"Of course there is," she commented.
"To maintain the effects of the Ambrosia, one must also ingest blood," he stated.
"So that's why it appeared like he was a vampire," she said. He nodded.
"He can't make more vampires, but he must drink the blood of a mortal every full moon or lose his immortality," he explained.
"So...where does Mom factor into all this?" Emma asked, still not understanding. He sighed.
"Well...according to what Rumpelstiltskin told us, the Ambrosia messed with Deimos' mind. There's a reason the Gods don't allow just anyone to eat it. He became even more depraved than before and thus his prey became young, beautiful women. He would make a game out of it. Hunt them...capture them...do things to them I'd rather not speak of to my daughter…" he trailed off.
"Oh my God...you mean he would…" she started to say. David nodded.
"Then when he was done and they were broken, he would drink them dry. And his immortality remained intact until the next full moon," he said.
"So once a month," she said. He nodded.
"We encountered him after we saved a village from Regina's Black Knights. We think he was planning to make his move on one of the young village girls. But then he saw your mother," he replied, feeling the burning rage of him frightening his wife in such a way.
"And he decided he wanted her?" she asked.
"Yes...but there was something different. He became obsessed with Snow and started stalking her. After we captured Rumpelstiltskin, we went to him in the dungeon to question him about why Snow seemed to be different than his other conquests and Stiltskin always seemed like he was holding back something. He only told us the entire story of how Deimos came to be, the story I just told you, and that he wanted Snow to be his," David said, as he clenched his fist.
"He wouldn't tell us why he had honed in on Snow, only that he only required a sip of blood to restore his immortality each month," he explained.
"So he never actually had to kill all those girls…" Emma deduced.
"No...he did it because he's a sadist. But he wanted to...keep your mother," he growled.
"What happened? How did you kill him or think that you killed him?" she asked.
"I pleaded with the Dark One to tell me how to defeat him for good. He once told me that he was in love and I used that. I implored him to help me save the woman I loved. That he knew what it was like to feel powerless to protect someone you love and he agreed. He told us that the Ambrosia's effects were null and void one night per year...the night of the Hunter's moon," he explained.
"Hunter's moon?" she asked.
"Also known as the Harvest moon or Blood moon. For that one night, his immortal strength was nullified. So, your mother tracked him and we moved in for battle. Us, the dwarves, Red, Lancelot, and Granny. Even without his immortal strength, he was strong and formidable, but in the end, we won. We defeated him in battle and Red, in her wolf form, tore him to shreds and we burned him. How he came back from that...I have no idea," he replied.
"Do you think Gold knows?" she asked.
"There's not a lot he doesn't know. I was actually going to stop at his shop on my way to your mother's apartment tonight," he replied. She nodded.
"In the meantime, we need to keep a really close eye on Mom," she said. He nodded.
"He's mortal here...that's in our favor. But he's still extremely dangerous, Emma. Be careful," he pleaded.
"I will and I better get back," she said, as she hugged him. He smiled and hugged her back, before kissing her forehead.
"Soon...we won't need to pretend we barely know each other. We'll finally be a real family," he promised. She smiled.
"I think we already are, but yeah, it will be nice when we're finally all together. I can't wait," she said.
"Me either," he agreed.
"Bye Dad...bye Wilby," she called, as she hurried back toward her car and David went back to the shelter.