AN: See chapter 1 for story notes and summaries.
Ships: Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, eventual Swanfire, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming BroT3. :)
Thanks for the reviews. Here are individual responses:
Saberius Prime: Thanks! Glad you like the story!
ragsweas: So glad you liked the chapter! Yeah, I went a different direction. She has her parent's guidance here so she decided to tell Henry the truth. She has a better support system here. Glad you like the dreamscape scenes. I will have more of those flashbacks with Emma at different ages in the future. Enjoy this next installment!
Barratta Jennifer: Thanks! Glad you liked it!
AshGreg: Thanks! Glad you like it so much and are enjoying the Greek Mythology and Dreamscape aspects.
Paola1991: Thanks! Regina will slowly be redeemed, but it's a bit slower here and there's much more focus on Snow's journey and her trauma. Charming's as well. Snowing got pushed to the background too much and that will not happen here. We will see flashbacks in the dreamscape of Emma when she was little. As for Henry, his part is a bit smaller in this, but he's still important. Like I said, this is a very Snowing centric story. Hope you continue to enjoy!
Beth1980: I know, Regina is hard to swallow here. Yeah, Emma has a better support system here and she listened to her father's advice here. Glad you liked the flashback in the dreamscape, as hard as that one was, it was necessary. I will have flashbacks in the dreamscape that are happier though in future chapters. As for what Emma told Neal about her past...you'll have to wait and see. ;) As for Snow's true background...no, the book is the same as in the show. There are very few that knew of her true biology, but someone truly dangerous discovers it in this chapter. ;)
Sara K M: Yeah, I guess Regina did go after Cora. I just sometimes think her blaming a child being the reason she went evil a little weak sometimes. Children can't keep secrets and actually should never be asked to. Regina was young too though. Cora is the true evil.
Yeah, I never got why people made Maurice a King. Clearly he was a noble, but I never remembered him being a King or Belle being a Princess. Yeah, I wanted to show that Emma wasn't always receptive to her parents and even rebelled against them for a while. So glad that I was able to convey that. As for the Neal thing, Emma's hurt and she doesn't want Henry to blame her right now. So yeah, she said he set her up. It was a bit of her bitterness coming through. It'll be made clear to Henry when the time comes. She didn't lie to him, but she didn't do Neal any favors either.
To be honest with Stephanie's credentials, I probably didn't make it verbally clear, but she's going to check out on paper. Everyone checks out on paper, even though technically none of them went to college for any of their degrees. At a certain point, all the curse identity stuff will be moot so I didn't spend too much time on the inner workings of that. There is a scene in a later chapter where Regina is frustrated, because she does check out on paper, but she just knows something is off. Hope that clears it up. Glad you're enjoying the story! :)
There is also a mature scene in this chapter and it is marked so you can skip it if that's not your thing.
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 16:Titanium
Mary tacked a poster to the bulletin board in the square. After enjoying hot cocoa with Belle and Stephanie at Granny's, David has shown up a little later and they got to work on putting up posters for Emma all over town. The bulletin board in the square was fair game, but most places, they had to get permission.
Fortunately, Granny was on their side and allowed them to put up Emma's posters at the diner. And Belle was already plastering the library with them, being that she owned the place. David was hopeful that the animal shelter would allow him to put her posters up there, but Mary wasn't so lucky at the hospital and the convent.
Mother Superior was quite cold to her concerning Emma and stated that in no uncertain terms would she campaign for a woman that had a child out of wedlock and went to jail. Mary decided right then that they didn't need someone so judgmental on their side.
And by the time she got to the hospital, she was disappointed to see that they were already supporting Sidney Glass. It was a little disconcerting, but she wouldn't give up. Sidney Glass would be a terrible Sheriff and would only serve Regina's interests. And Emma would make an incredible Sheriff, she knew it.
Wilby hurried up to her ahead of David and rubbed against her leg. She smiled and bent over to pet him and scratch his ears.
"Hey…" David said.
"Hey yourself," she replied, as he greeted her with a kiss. She sighed into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Did you have any luck at the shelter?" she asked. He nodded.
"I convinced my boss to let me put the posters up for Emma. But he also said that he wouldn't deny Sidney the same privilege if he asks," he said.
"That's better luck than I had," she said dejectedly.
"No luck at the convent and the hospital?" he asked.
"Sidney has already cornered the hospital and I had no idea Mother Superior was so judgmental," she replied. He hugged her close.
"Hey...Emma's going to win. I have faith," he said, as he held her close. She shivered in the November air and cuddled against him. He surprised her then by sweeping her into his arms and she blushed, as he swept her into one of those dances she thought was only done at fancy balls.
"David…" she said shyly, as she noticed all the stares.
"What? You don't want to dance with me?" he asked. She smiled.
"I do...but there's no music," she replied.
"Oh, I don't know. I think we're pretty good at making our own music," he said, as she bumped into someone. They turned and saw Kathryn there with a cool look for them both.
"David. Mary Margaret, I think dancing in the square is a little juvenile, even for you two," she greeted frigidly. Mary blushed, but David smiled at her, as he pecked her on the lips.
"Kathryn…" he greeted in return, as she pinned up a poster for Sidney Glass right next to the one for Emma.
"You're campaigning for Sidney Glass?" Mary asked and then put her hand over her mouth, realizing that she had said it aloud.
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I supposed to vote for the blonde deviant that keeps trying to take my friend's son away from her?" Kathryn spat, causing the raven haired beauty to recoil.
"You don't have to snap at Mary Margaret. She didn't do anything to you," David spat in return.
"Oh right, I'm supposed to be nice to the woman who's sleeping with my ex-husband and boarding the woman that's turning little Henry against his mother," Kathryn replied, with an eye roll.
"Well, like you said, I'm your ex so it's really none of your business who I'm with now, is it?" he retorted.
"I suppose not. But I do find it interesting that, according to Regina, your new sweetheart visited you almost every day you were in a coma...for years. And then she pounced on you the moment you woke up," she replied. David glared at her. There was no doubt about it now. Regina had carefully put these suggestions in Kathryn's head. Abigail would have never spewed such utterances.
"Kathryn...you must know that we didn't know each other before David's accident," Mary told her.
"Oh of course not, but you certainly didn't waste any time once you did meet, did you?" she asked.
"Mary and I fell in love, not that it's any of your business," David interjected sternly.
"No, I suppose it's not. But you'd be crazy to think that I would support the woman that helped fill Henry's head with these delusions and her best friend that's trying to steal him away," she hissed.
"Don't use that word," David hissed back. But she ignored him.
"It makes sense though. Tramps stick together," she snapped, as she stalked off. Mary looked deeply hurt and he put his arms around her.
"You can't listen to her. Obviously Regina has been spouting off to her and we both know that Emma is not stealing Henry from her. Regina is responsible for Henry pulling away. You and Emma have given that little boy hope when he had none," he implored. She swallowed thickly.
"And the other thing she said?" Mary asked quietly. He lifted her chin with two fingers so she would look him in the eyes.
"I may not remember my marriage to Kathryn, but I know we weren't meant to be; not the way we are. From the moment I opened my eyes and saw you...there's been this incredible connection between us," he said passionately. Her eyes filled with tears.
"I am so in love with you," he continued and a tear slipped down her cheek.
"I'm so in love with you too," she confessed.
"And for some reason, that makes Regina unhappy so she's going to talk behind our backs and call us names. But we shouldn't let her sully what we have," he pleaded. Mary took a deep breath.
"You're right…" she realized, as she wiped her tears away.
"I've been letting Regina do this to me for...as long as I can remember. I let her insult me day after day...but now she's going after Emma too," Mary said, as she felt this overwhelming, protective urge swell inside her when it came to Emma. If she had stopped to think about why, it might have seemed odd to her, but Emma was more than just a friend.
"She's trying to hurt Emma now…" Mary said, as she spotted the smug Mayor nearby in the square. And David watched the exact moment that something snapped inside Mary, as she stalked up to the other woman.
Most of the town milled about, as it was early evening and there was no mistaking the emerald fire in her eyes. Regina had finally pushed Mary too far and it was all because Regina went after Emma this time. He hurried after her and watched in amazement, as Mary called her out in front of everyone. It was exactly something Snow would do...but no one expected it from shy, sweet Mary Margaret Blanchard. They were about to all be shocked though.
"How dare you…" Mary spat.
"Excuse me?" Regina questioned.
"You know, I get that you hate me, but going after Emma is too much," Mary retorted.
"I didn't go after Emma. That article reported the truth about her. Nothing more," Regina said. By that time, most everyone had stopped to gawk at the public confrontation they had created.
"Did you even for a moment consider how the defamatory language in the article might make your son feel? The son you claim to love?" Mary challenged, causing gasps of surprise to ensue among many.
"Trying to give me parenting tips again? Miss Blanchard, how many times do I have to remind you that you have no place in doing so?" Regina boasted.
"You have no child, but I do," she reminded.
"No...I don't have children, but I'm not alone anymore and I know that if someday I do have them, I'll be twice the mother you are. Because I would do everything in my power to protect my child from the scrutiny you willingly subjected Henry to with the content of that article," Mary accused, causing Regina to recoil involuntarily. There were snickers and chortles from the crowd, as many seemed to be enjoying seeing the Mayor be knocked down a peg, by Mary Margaret Blanchard, no less. But none were enjoying it more than David, who wanted to cheer for her at the top of his lungs.
"Excuse me…" Regina growled. But Mary interrupted.
"No...you're not excused this time, Madam Mayor. You may have spent years barking your orders and watching us all jump. But those days are done," Mary said, as she looked around at the other townspeople.
"If you want her to stop controlling our lives and using this town for her own agenda, then you should vote Emma Swan for Sheriff," Mary announced, as she glared at the Mayor.
"Miss Blanchard...I can make your life very unpleasant…" Regina growled.
"That sounds like a threat. What kind of Mayor threatens her own citizens?" David questioned, causing rumblings through the other townspeople. Regina looked startled by the dissension.
"The kind that will only do it more if Sidney Glass, her willing lapdog, is voted in as Sheriff," Mary added. Regina glared at them.
"You'll both regret this," Regina hissed quietly. Mary Margaret let out the breath she was holding and David turned her around, grinning at her from ear to ear.
"You were amazing!" he exclaimed, as he hugged her. She blushed and it finally sunk in what she had just done.
"Oh my God...I just did that…" she started to say, but he cut her off with a kiss.
"Yes, you did and it was incredible," he praised.
"But what if she carries through on her threat?" she asked, biting her bottom lip. He shook his head.
"Whatever she does, we'll face it...together," he replied. She smiled.
"Together," she agreed, as he kissed her again and her eyes fluttered open, as their lips parted.
"You know, we've put up about as many posters as we can today. I think we should go home," she suggested. He grinned.
"Come on Wilby...time to go home," he called, as he put his arm around her and they strolled off together.
The Enchanted Forest
Shortly before Leopold's death
King Leopold watched his daughter with a proud smile, as she tended to the flowers in the palace gardens. The snowdrops were always a prominent flower among the castle flora and his little princess knew of their significance to her late mother, Queen Eva. He had to admit that when he first started courting Eva, he had been a bit miffed at first when she seemed to show little interest in roses. Never had he met a woman that seemed indifferent to roses. But Eva explained that she had always been so drawn to snowdrops and never really knew exactly why. He admitted that he didn't really understand it either.
And then they received the gift that was their precious little Snow and he had a new love and admiration for the flower that survived such a winter. It was the coldest and harshest winter any had ever seen. But he and his Queen had survived and better for it, as they received the most precious gift during a terrible blizzard in a winter that carried into a month when spring should have been blooming.
It was a funny thing, because he could remember that blizzard so clearly, but found the birth of his daughter to be virtual blur. He surmised that he had been so nervous and terrified that he had blocked some of it out. It's not like had been in the room with Eva when she gave birth. Such a thing wasn't appropriate for a man of his status.
But he remembered the first time he held her, as Johanna passed the tiny little bundle to him. So tiny and precious she was, wrapped in a white knit blanket made of the softest, finest wool in the Kingdom. The most perfect little Princess that had become even more fair and lovely as she grew into a woman. He only wished his beloved Eva could see their little girl now.
"Good afternoon, Leopold," Cora cooed, interrupting his thoughts, as she strode into the palace gardens.
"Cora…" he greeted. It was polite, but cool, as were most of their interactions. No one but the two of them knew of their past history and they wanted it that way.
"My, my, young Snow certainly spends a lot of time out here playing in the dirt. Not very becoming of a princess," Cora said distastefully.
"There is nothing wrong with Snow's affinity for the flora. It's only natural that my little princess should be among such beauty," he boasted. Cora glowered at the ever present thorn in her side that was Snow White. But she had discovered something very interesting and knew it would be the key to her demise. Snow stood in Regina's path to the throne and that meant she had to be eliminated. But when she started digging into the Kingdom's past, even she had no idea she would uncover such scandal. She had hardly believed it herself, but it was just what she needed to ruin Snow White and even better, Eva's legacy.
"Perhaps...but it's hardly proper for a princess to consort with birds and woodland creatures," Cora said, crinkling her nose, as she watched Snow pet a rabbit and put her hand out for a bluebird to land on. Two squirrels vied for her attention as well and a baby fawn wandered up to her, the mother doe hardly concerned with her baby getting close to this human.
"I have always been in awe of my daughter's affinity with the animals. It was quite remarkable and such has not ever been seen before," he boasted. Cora smirked.
"Well...I believe I heard once there was a Goddess who had a similar affinity. Persephone, I believe her name was. You know, this reminds me a wild story I heard recently," she said.
"Oh?" Leopold asked with disinterest.
"Yes...this acquaintance of mine who is very affluent in Dark Magic had this very interesting book that I decided to borrow years ago. It told a story about how Princess Eva of the northern Kingdom had a younger brother," Cora replied, knowing Eva's name would peak his interest.
"My late wife had no brother," Leopold protested.
"That's not what this book says. It was quite the romance. Prince Elijah fell in love with the Goddess Persephone, whom betrayed Hades himself to be with her mortal prince. And...they conceived a child," Cora said.
"A fantastic tale. But I don't see what this has to do with my family," he replied. But Cora ignored him.
"Hades was very angry and had the prince killed. But Persephone's mother stepped in before he could harm the child. On what should have been an early spring night, Persephone's child was born during the most horrific blizzard ever seen in all the Kingdoms," Cora recited, striking a chord in Leopold.
"I don't know what game you are playing, Cora, but I am finished talking to you," he stated, as he turned away.
"Tell me Leopold...can you recall every moment the night your daughter was born? Because I know Henry, as inept as he is, remembers every single detail of the night Regina was born," Cora said smugly, as she handed the book to him.
"Perhaps you should do a little light reading tonight," Cora added, as she sauntered away with an evil smirk on her face.
Regina leafed through the surveillance photos Sidney had taken of her most hated enemies. They were from several different days, but always the same place. The Toll Bridge with their stupid mutt during the early evening hours. She growled and pushed all the photos off her desk, sending them scattering to the floor in her home office.
"That little bitch…" she growled, thinking about the audacity of her tramp of a stepdaughter. She needed to be taught a very harsh lesson and she knew exactly how to do it, as she picked up the phone.
"Hello," Damon Tromera answered.
"Mr. Tromera...you wanted an opportunity to get to Miss Blanchard and I know for a fact that she and her idiot boyfriend walk their mutt out by the Toll bridge around five-thirty every evening. You'll need a tranquilizer to take the dog out, which is easily provided, but then the rest is up to you," Regina stated.
"I am most grateful for this information, Madam Mayor. I'm well aware of the little spectacle she created for you in the square. Is it safe to say you'd like me to teach Mary Margaret her proper place?" he asked. The Queen smirked.
"Do whatever you want with her. Just make sure when you're done, she'll never dare to confront me again and that David Nolan is permanently dealt with," she replied.
"Not to worry, Madam Mayor. David Nolan won't live to see another day after tomorrow and Mary Margaret will never leave my sight again," he assured. She grinned.
"Perfect...she'll make a nice little pet for you. Enjoy," Regina hissed, as she hung up the phone.
"And with your parents out of the way, Miss Swan, you'll be easily dealt with as well," Regina said, as she sipped at her hard apple cider.
The candlelight on the bedside table cast their shadows through the closed curtains around the bed, as lips met feverishly and clothes were divested with urgent abandon.
_Snowing_
"Oh David…" she cried out, as he cupped her breasts in his strong hands.
"I love you...so much…" he rasped, as they tumbled to the bed. David pressed her into the mattress and nipped at her throat. Mary felt that boldness fill her again and flipped him onto his back, as she straddled his waist. His strong hands slid up down her back and to her shapely rear. She mewled into his kiss, as he cupped her backside and she lifted onto her knees, before sinking down onto his hard, thick length, until he was buried inside her the hilt.
"Mary…" he uttered passionately, as he watched her, purely mesmerized, as she started riding him with languid gallops. He gripped her hips and then slid his hands around to fill his hands with her ass, helping her ride him and thrusting as deeply into her as possible. The euphoria of their lovemaking consumed them and passion licked at their every nerve. Her core felt like liquid fire and he throbbed inside her, as she gyrated him against her clit. He held her, as she came, thrashing and quaking around him. He didn't last much longer and with a final sharp thrust, he erupted inside her, filling her to completion.
_Snowing_
She collapsed atop his chest, as they panted together and lay there for some time, kissing softly and just enjoying their bodies being entwined like they were one. Eventually, he pulled himself from her depths and they cuddled together face to face.
"What are you thinking?" she whispered.
"About how much I love you...how amazing you are. How turned on I was when you went off on Regina," he mentioned, with a chuckle, enjoying her blush.
"I don't know what came over me," she admitted.
"She has put you down so much, which is so wrong. But you finally stood up to her when she went after someone you love. That's why you're so amazing," he said.
"Emma has stood up to her about me. She deserves the same from me," Mary reasoned.
"She's going to be so proud of you, just like I am," he replied, as he kissed her tenderly. She snuggled against him and slowly let him heartbeat lull her to sleep. He wasn't far behind her. The Dreamscape awaited them.
The next morning, Emma came down for breakfast and couldn't help the grin on her face.
"You seem happy this morning," Mary mentioned, as she made bacon.
"I am...I'd be even happier if I could have seen you go off on Regina yesterday," the blonde replied.
"So you heard?" Mary asked shyly.
"Yeah...everyone was buzzing about it last night. I'm sure they still are," Emma replied. David grinned.
"It was pretty amazing," he agreed, smiling fondly at her. Emma smiled and their conversation continued through breakfast. Once that was done, they proceeded to get ready for their respective jobs and prepared to part for the day.
Mary and David agreed to meet at Granny's for their usual walk with Wilby after work and they were off for the day
Unfortunately, when Mary got to school, the first thing she saw was the horrifying sight of the beautiful garden they had planted in utter ruins.
"What happened?" Mary exclaimed, as Stephanie was already there, looking at the scene with scrutiny.
"Vandalism...I already called Emma," Stephanie replied, as Mary noticed all the snowdrops were spattered with a red substance.
"Is that…" she started to say.
"Blood? Yes, I believe it is," she replied.
"Hey, I got here as soon as I could," Emma called, as she arrived on the scene.
"Thank you Sheriff Swan," Stephanie said, as they saw Sidney Glass also approaching.
"No one called for you, Mr. Glass," Stephanie said coldly.
"I did," Regina interjected, as she approached and Mary tried hard not to flinch under her glower. Emma just rolled her eyes and put gloves on.
"Well, I'd say we should send one of these flowers to the lab for testing," Sidney decided.
"Bravo Sherlock, why didn't I think of that?" Emma muttered, as she bagged a flower in an evidence bag.
"Well, if you ask me, it gave these sad little flowers a little color," Regina said, glaring at the two raven haired women.
"I know it's an eyesore and you probably want to replant, but I'm going to partition this off until we get the results back from the lab," Emma said. Stephanie nodded.
"Of course," she replied.
"Well, I think I'll leave you to digging in the dirt, deputy," Sidney commented.
"That's acting Sheriff Swan. You haven't won yet, Glass," she snapped back and he chuckled. As she glared at him, she noticed a trash can close by. Following on her instincts, she took the lid off and started digging.
"You know, digging through trash is a little classless, even for you, Miss Swan," Regina said snidely.
"It's called detective work, Mayor Snarky," Emma snapped back, as she pulled at a plastic blood bag, empty of course.
"What is that?" Mary asked.
"An empty bag of donated blood from the hospital, probably stolen, if I had to guess. Still think this isn't a crime, Madam Mayor?" she asked, as she bagged it too. She was going to take these to the lab personally.
On the surface, this had all the marks of a prank. But Emma had a gut feeling there was more here, like it was an omen or warning.
"I'll see you later," Emma told Mary, as she headed for her car.
"Okay," May replied, as she looked at the garden forlornly.
"It's okay...we'll replant," Stephanie said confidently.
"My students and I would love to help again," Mary replied. She smiled.
"I'd love that too," she agreed.
The Underworld
2 Years Before the Dark Curse
Winter was approaching again and soon Persephone would be forced to return here. She would be in for a rude awakening, for he hadn't shown her much else other than indifference in years. But now, with the sting of Zelena's rejection and revelation that Snow White was the daughter she had hidden from him in plain sight all these years, he wanted to make her pay. He wasn't going to tell her that he knew yet, but she was going to find a firmer hand on her when she returned and he would make her be his wife again in every way. But first, there was something things he wanted to know from a certain mortal that was now a new resident in his realm.
He watched as his two henchmen he had disturbingly dubbed Pain and Panic brought the person he had sent them for. There was maybe a half a brain between the two of them, but they were good muscle.
"On your knees before your new King," Pain growled.
"Yeah, you may have been a King in the mortal world, but down here, you're just another peon like the others," Panic hissed to the old man.
"Enough you two brutes and leave," Hades interrupted, banishing the two morons.
"Would you care for a drink?" Hades asked, as he poured wine in two goblets. The former King looked at him in disbelief and the God chuckled.
"Don't let whatever Pain and Panic said scare you. I have no interest in throwing you into the river of lost souls, Leopold. I just want to have a chat," Hades replied. The former King got to his feet and accepted the goblet of wine with weariness.
"To be done in by your own Queen...it is something I have feared myself," Hades mentioned.
"You have a Queen that would wish to kill you?" Leopold asked.
"Oh yes...I stole her away from her mother, centuries ago, and forced her into my bed. She would love nothing more than to send me into my own river," he mentioned.
"I should have never forced Regina to marry me," Leopold admitted.
"Yes...because now the woman you hoped to be a mother figure to her is now hunting her like an animal," Hades goaded, as Leopold looked upon his daughter in his vewing pool.
"Snow..." he uttered.
"You really do love her...even though she's not yours by birth," Hades observed and the King looked to him. The God smirked.
"Oh yes...I know. My treacherous wife is unaware that I know of her identity, but not to worry. Soon, your daughter will join you here in my realm," Hades hissed.
"What...what do you mean?" Leopold asked fearfully.
"My right hand, Deimos, is tracking her and her fiance as we speak. Snow and her fake Prince will soon perish at his hand," Hades boasted.
"Hades!" Persephone cried, as she returned to his chamber and saw the image in the viewing pool. Her heart dropped into her stomach and his grin was feral.
"Yes, my dear Persephone. I have found her at last and you will finally reap what you have sewn," the God growled.
"Please...Snow is innocent in this!" Leopold cried.
"I invited you here to witness the half-breed's demise. Unless you'd like to end up in the river, I'd hold your tongue, Your Majesty," Hades threatened. Persephone gazed at her daughter and her future son-in-law in the viewing pool with bated breath, willing strength to them in hopes they could thwart Deimos...