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: Yeah, Emma knows that Rumple's not really bad, but she has to follow the laws. It's important to remember that. Glad you're enjoying it.

tammy henson: Glad you liked it!

BooksinmyDreams: So glad you liked it!

ragsweas: Yeah, she almost got her memories back, but then she didn't. Expect me to keep teasing for a while. ;)

Guest: Thanks! Glad you like it so much!

Number Ten: Yes, she said that line in 5B. It's what initially gave me the idea for the dreamscape.

Guest 2: Thanks! Glad you liked it so much!

Beth1980: Glad you loved it! Glad you liked Rumple taking on Cora. That was one of my favorites in the last chapter too. I never liked Moe either and I'm not a big Leopold fan, but figured he would still adore , Maleficent's egg. I did erase another event that I hated too. More on that later. ;) As for Snow and Persephone looking similar, no one has noticed per say, but it's kind of like the Clark Kent/Superman effect if that makes any sense.

Dreaming Out Loud

Chapter 21: Falsehoods

"David...I really don't think this is necessary," Mary protested, as she sat in the exam room.

"We don't know that. I just want to make sure you didn't hit your head or something when you fainted," he replied. Stephanie smiled.

"He's right to be concerned, Mary," she agreed, as the raven haired beauty huffed and rolled her eyes. It made David take a stifled breath, as she looked exactly like their daughter in that moment. Whale made his entrance and was already exasperated.

"Sorry for the wait, but as you can imagine, I've been busy," Whale mentioned, as he looked at her chart.

"If you're not family, then you'll kindly leave while examine my patient," Whale said flippantly.

"David is my family and so is Stephanie. I want them here," Mary replied. The doctor sighed and was too tired to protest, as he conducted a physical.

"Well, despite fainting, you appear to be fine. I don't see any lesions or bruises so I think your fall was harmless. If you feel any pain or dizziness, you should come back immediately. Otherwise, I don't see a reason for you to stay," Whale said, as he scribbled on her chart, before leaving.

"See...I'm fine," she said. He chuckled and put his arm around her.

"Then how about dinner at Granny's? You're welcome to join us, Stephanie," he said. She smiled.

"That sounds wonderful," she agreed. Mary sighed.

"Maybe we can get to shopping tomorrow. Let's check on Belle too before we go," she suggested.

"Of course," he agreed, as they headed out.

The jail cell door closed with a chink and she sighed, as she dropped the file on his desk.

"I need to get out of here and see Belle," Gold growled.

"You know I can't let you go after you lost it on Mr. French," Emma replied.

"What about what he did?!" Gold spat.

"Believe me, I'll be bringing him in too after he's released from the hospital for pulling a knife on Mary Margaret and Belle," she said.

"You need to stop playing by the rules, Miss Swan, because I assure you Regina will not," he warned. She sighed.

"You know I have to. I may have been elected, but if I give her a legitimate reason, she can still fire me. Then we'll really be no where," she warned. Gold was silent, loathed to admit that she had a point.

"So...Moe French. He's Belle's father?" Emma asked.

"Of sorts, though he's not a model version of one, but then neither was I. We can't all be your father, I suppose," Gold mused.

"What did he do to her?" the blonde asked.

"It's a very long, sordid story. But suffice to say, he had a certain vision of who his daughter should be and Belle had other ideas. Back in our land, Lord Maurice sought to marry her off to Gaston, who in turn would provide his army to defeat the ogres that were terrorizing their land," he explained.

"Gaston...of course. Is he as terrible as the stories made him out to be?" Emma asked.

"More or less...Belle certainly didn't want to marry him so I stepped in and killed all the ogres," he replied. Emma smiled.

"So you saved her," she surmised.

"No...I don't do anything without charging a price and so I took her prisoner. She became my maid," he responded and Emma frowned.

"Oh…" she said awkwardly.

"We're not your parents, Miss Swan. It is not easy to love a monster. But somehow Belle managed," he added.

"Then something happened?" Emma questioned.

"I let her go and she didn't come back. The Queen told me she died," he answered.

"And you believed her?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"She told me her father locked her away and she died falling from the tower. Believe me, Lord Maurice wouldn't have been above doing so to keep us apart," he replied.

"You let her go…and she would have come back if she could. You're Rumpelstiltskin and the Beast," she realized. He rolled his eyes

"Yes...I am a beast, at least most think so," he agreed. She shrugged.

"My Dad doesn't think so. In fact, I'd say he considers you a friend, especially since you helped him," she retorted.
"I helped him, because it served the purpose of breaking the curse faster," he refuted. She shrugged.

"I'm just saying that I know my Dad. I know he owes you for helping him keep Regina from giving him a fake life or some crap and I suppose I do too. I mean...I have my Dad while I'm awake for the first time in my life and it's amazing," she replied.

"What is your point, Miss Swan?" he asked impatiently.

"My point is that have you just thought about ever asking someone to help you, because you're a friend?" she asked.

"I am not someone that has friends as a rule," he refuted.

"But if you did...you know you could just ask for help, you know, without the whole deal and threats and stuff," she said. He was quiet for a moment.

"So...you're saying that if I ask your father for help, I don't need a deal or threat?" he asked.

"Pretty much. I know...crazy, right?" she joked.

"More than you know," he responded.

"I mean, he won't kill anyone for you or taking a sleeping curse for you, though he'd probably do that for Mom," she rambled.

"And what about you, Miss Swan?" he asked.

"Me?" she questioned.

"If I needed a favor in the future, would I need to make a deal or could I simply ask as you say?" he asked curiously.

"Ask and if I can help...I will," she agreed. He looked skeptical, as she returned to her desk to do the paperwork on today's debacle, leaving him with his thoughts.

Mary, David, and Stephanie waited outside Belle's room impatiently, as Whale conducted an exam.

"Why isn't she awake yet?" Mary fretted.

"That was a nasty bump she got. I'm sure she's going to be fine though," he promised, as Whale came out of the room.

"How is she?" Mary asked.

"She should make a full recovery, but she's sedated now so she can rest. I'm afraid she can't have any visitors until tomorrow," he said, as he left to continue his rounds. Mary's shoulders slumped, as she peered through the window.

"We'll come back first thing in the morning," David suggested. She nodded with a smile, as they started toward the elevator. But as they rounded the corner, they ran right into Damon, who was being pushed in a wheelchair by an orderly.

"Well...imagine running into the reason I'm here," he hissed, as David pulled Mary back.

"You did this to yourself, Mr. Tromera," Stephanie growled.

"I'm sorry...do I know you?" he asked, as his gaze swept over her

"No...but you hurt my friends. That's enough for me to know you're scum," she hissed back, as he held her in a scrutinizing gaze for a few moments, before his stare shifted to Mary Margaret. It was frightening and hungry, as usual and the raven haired beauty couldn't help but shudder. David's arms kept her from panicking completely.

"Ah...there you are Damon," a man's voice said and David's blood boiled, as he finally came face to face with King George or as he was known here, Albert Spencer, esteemed District Attorney. Damon smirked.

"Everything is taken care of," Spencer stated.

"Thank you, Mr. Spencer. I knew I could count on you," Damon goaded.

"What exactly did you take care of?" David questioned.

"I've been discharged from this place at last," Damon replied. David glowered at him.

"Then I guess you'll be walking straight into a jail cell," the prince said.

"That's where you're wrong, deputy," Spencer retorted and Damon's smirk widened.

"He attacked us...he tried to kill me and assaulted Mary. He was going to hurt her," David growled.

"David's right. He's been brought up on formal charges of attempted murder," Stephanie interjected.

"And assault," David added.

"Which is why he will stand trial for. Until then, a judge has granted his attorney's request for bail, which has been paid in full. Mr, Tromera is free to go until his trial begins next month," Spencer replied in a goading tone.

"He is a monster…" David growled.

"A jury will decide that, Deputy Nolan," Spencer responded.

"I'm sure I'll see you both around town," the monster said smugly, as his gaze lingered on Mary Margaret.

"Have a wonderful evening, Miss Blanchard," he leered, as he was pushed away by an orderly.

"Damn him…" Stephanie cursed, noticing Mary's near catatonic stare. David cupped her beautiful face in his hands.

"He's not going to get away with what he did," he promised

"I love you for saying that, but I think we both know how this will go. The jury is probably already bought and paid for. That's how this town works. Trust me, I've lived here long enough to know that," she said with hopelessness in her tone.

"We will still fight him," David insisted, as he hugged her close and she clung to him for dear life.

"Maybe you should take her home. I'll get take out from Granny's and bring it to the loft," Stephanie suggested. David nodded.

"That sounds like a good idea. Thanks," he replied

Emma arrived at the hospital and found Dr. Whale, making his rounds.

"Sheriff," he greeted at the nurse's desk.

"How are Belle and Mr. French?" she asked.

"You know, I'm not at liberty to discuss my patients with non-familial persons," he responded.

"Mr. French pulled a knife on Belle and Mary Margaret. He also lowered Mary into the cavern beneath the library against her will. I need to know his condition, so I know when I can arrest him," Emma replied. Whale sighed.

"His injuries are mostly superficial. He's been treated and patched up. I'm keeping him overnight, but barring no complications, I should be able to release him in the morning," he reported.

"Can I see him?" she asked.

"Yes, but try not to agitate him. He is still my patient," Whale warned.

"I'll do my best," Emma replied, as she slipped quietly into the room, seeing that he was awake.

"Mr. French...I need to ask you a couple of questions," she stated. He nodded.

"You pulled a knife of Belle and Mary Margaret. Usually people like you don't randomly go around doing things like that," she said.

"People like me?" he asked.

"Upstanding business owners with no criminal record whatsoever. You've never even had a parking ticket so you pulling a knife on two unarmed women is more than a little strange," she replied.

"What are you asking me, Sheriff?" he questioned.

"Did someone put you up to this?" she asked. Moe opened his mouth, but they were interrupted by another voice.

"Not another word, Mr. French," the man said, as he came into the room.

"Who are you?" Emma asked.

"Mitchell Herman...Mr. French's attorney," he replied. Emma raised an eyebrow, as another man slipped into the room.

She had to clamp down her emotions at this one. She knew who this was, even without ever having actually seen him. This man was as bad as Regina, maybe worse in some ways. King George...or District Attorney Albert Spencer. The man that forced her mother to break her father's heart. The man that had threatened to kill her grandmother if her father didn't enter into an arranged marriage. The man that had cursed her mother to be barren, resulting in her grandmother giving up her life just so Emma could exist.

"I took the liberty of seeing that Mr. French has proper representation," Spencer said.

"Which means this interview is over, Sheriff," Mitchell added.

"Mr. French is going to be brought up on charges," Emma interjected.

"And I'm dismissing those charges," Spencer retorted.

"You can't do that," Emma spat.

"Oh...I assure you I can, Sheriff Swan. This was a simple misunderstanding and mistakes were made by a distraught father, who was then beaten senseless," Spencer said.

"So Regina snaps her fingers and her lap dogs jump into action," Emma accused.

"Watch your tongue, Miss Swan," Albert snapped.

"Sheriff Swan," she corrected.

"And if I don't, you'll what? You'll work me over and then have your precious Mayor sweep your misdeeds under the rug? Because we both know that's exactly what she's going to try to do with Damon Tromera. Well, I hope you're ready for one hell of a fight," Emma growled, as she stormed out of the room.

The Dreamscape

When Emma arrived in the dreamscape that night, she was unsurprised to see her parents dancing in the meadow. Carefree, with love glowing in their eyes. Sometimes, it still gave Emma pause to see them like this. It was still difficult to believe at times that she had come from a love like this...one so powerful. In the world she grew up in when she was awake, this kind of love just didn't exist. She loved seeing them like this, unburdened by the Queen's evil and the complications of the curse. She had remained vague on what was going on in town. She wanted it that way. She didn't want them to remember their lives when they were awake, not yet anyway. They likely soon would once the curse was the curse was broken and she still had a lot of work to do. But coming here, being with them like this, made her task seem less daunting.

"Have I told you lately how much I love you, my darling?" he asked, as he picked her up and spun her around.

"You have...but I never tire of hearing it, though when you serenade me with your gorgeous voice, you really outdo yourself," she mentioned fondly.

"I love singing to you," he agreed.

"And I love when you do, though I could never doubt your love, even without words or song. The way you look at me, the way you hold me, the way you kiss me; itspeaks volumes in a way words cannot. I just hope I am as good at expressing my love for you as you are to me," she replied. He smiled.

"You are," he assured, as their lips met with tender passion. Emma shook her head, knowing she better interrupt this or she would be seeing things a daughter should never see. She walked closer and they sensed her, as their lips parted.

"Emma!" Snow called, as they enveloped her in their embrace. And her father cradled her head.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, as she cupped her daughter's face with both hands. Emma smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"It's fine," she replied.

"Princess...you can tell us, you know. We can handle it," he assured.

"I know...I just...this place is like a sanctuary," she lamented.

"It is...and nothing can sully that. We can't be there for you in the right capacity when we're awake, so please let us be here for you now," Snow pleaded.

"Well, without going into too many details, I was unfortunate enough to finally meet King George," she revealed. She saw her mother's expression tighten and something flash behind her father's eyes.

"Did he do something to hurt you?" Charming asked, trying to keep his voice as even as possible.

"No...he just happens to be in a position of power, like Regina. He's kind of in charge of the justice system so to speak," Emma explained vaguely.

"Which means there will be injustice with him in any position of power," Charming surmised.

"Yeah...but I'm going to handle it," she promised.

"We know you will. You're so strong, honey," Snow gushed and hugged her tightly.

"It's not hard to see where Henry gets his hopeful nature," Emma replied. And her parents beamed at the mention of the grandchild they were eager to meet.

Early the next morning, Regina strode down the mostly deserted corridors of the hospital. It was well before visitation hours, but no one would dare stop her or question her. She found the right room and slipped inside.

Belle stirred and was slightly startled when she saw the Mayor in her room.

"Madam Mayor…" she stammered, as she tried to sit up a little more.

"Oh don't fuss, dear. I just came to see how you were doing after that ordeal yesterday," Regina purred.

"I'm...I'm fine," she managed to say.

"Is...Mary Margaret okay?" Belle asked.

"Oh yes...Deputy Nolan made sure of that," Regina replied with disdain.

"Now I have a question for you," Regina cooed. Belle swallowed.

"What it is?" she asked.

"Do you recognize this?" she asked, as she showed her the matchbook.

"No...I don't think so," Belle said, as her head felt funny.

"Look again," Regina urged, as Belle did so and the tingling in her head intensified.

Slowly Mary became aware of other sensations than the overwhelming pleasure that had been everything just moments ago. Their cooling skin, his enticing scent, how right it felt to be in his arms, the softness of the mattress beneath her, sunlight peeking through the curtains, and birds chirping happily. But they weren't as happy as she was.

She had woke up in the best way possible. After they loved so passionately last night, she was a little surprised he had any energy left to make love to her this morning, but she probably shouldn't have been. She smiled and opened her eyes. He smiled down at her, mesmerized by her beauty. He was always mesmerized by her, but when she was like this, sated, with mussed hair and swollen lips from his kiss, she had a glow about her that was especially entrancing.

"You're so beautiful…" he uttered reverently, as his kissed her throat.

"I'm a mess," she protested.

"A radiant mess then," he muttered, as he nibbled on her ear, giving her chills. That's when they heard Wilby whine at the door. She giggled.

"He has the worst timing," he said.

"You take Wilby out and then when you get back, you can join me in the shower," she tempted.

"Mmm...deal," he hummed, as he kissed her lips. It was then her turn to admire, as she got the enjoyable pleasure of watching him get up and walk around the small enclosed space naked, as he found his clothes. He leaned down and pecked her on the lips, after he threw his clothes on and then hurried out the door with Wilby. She smiled dreamily and then sauntered into the bathroom.

Emma unlocked Gold's cell that morning.

"Your bail posted and surprisingly, Spencer didn't fight it," she mentioned, as he hobbled out of the jail cell.

"That's because there was a bonus in it for him and if there is one person, Albert Spencer is more afraid to cross than Regina...it's me," he said.

"Okay...I'm gonna just pretend I didn't hear you say you basically paid him off," she replied.

"You can't play by the rules in this town, Miss Swan," he warned again, as he got his coat.

"I need to get to the hospital," he said.

"I know...I called Jefferson. He should be here any minute," she replied, as he looked at her, slightly taken aback. Even after their conversation the previous day, he wasn't used to people helping him without wanting something in return.

"Whale told me she's okay. He wouldn't let David or Mary see her last night, but they were going to visit her this morning," Emma added. Having friends was an odd thing for him and not entirely comfortable. But he wasn't ungrateful either. He simply nodded, as Jefferson arrived.

"How is she?" Mary asked, as Whale came out of Belle's room that morning.

"Physically, she's fine. I should be releasing her later today," he responded.

"Is something else wrong?" David asked.

"Well...it seems the bump to her head has brought back some memories. Belle is saying now she's Lacey French. You can see her, but I'm not sure she's going to know who you are," Whale replied, as he left to continue his rounds. Mary was stunned and looked to David.

"She got her memories back...that's good," she said. He gave her an encouraging nod.

"You're still friends. You can explain that to her," he encouraged. But he had a sinking feeling, as they went into the room.

Whatever memories she had now weren't real and that meant Regina had gotten to her.

"Belle…" Mary called and the woman in the bed looked up sharply.

"I mean Lacey…" she corrected herself.

"I'm sorry...you are?" she asked shortly.

"Um...I'm Mary Margaret and this is David. We're your friends," she said. She scoffed.

"Yeah...somehow I doubt that. You two don't exactly look like the type of people I hang out with," she retorted. Mary frowned.

"I know you don't remember...but we were," she insisted.

"And now we're not. Whoever this Belle was...it's not me. It's the person I was without memories. But now I have my real memories back. You see, Lacey hangs out in bars and by the looks of you, I'd say you've probably never even been to one," she said, taking in Mary's conservative clothing.

"I've...maybe not, but we did have a lot of fun talking about books and you helped me and my students plant a garden at the school," Mary reminded, as David put his hands on her arms. His heart was already breaking for her.

"Books? Gardening? Ugh...it's worse than I thought. Are you sure you're not Mary Poppins?" she scoffed.

"But…" Mary started to say.

"Listen sweet cheeks, I'm not this Belle that you keep on about anymore. I'm Lacey. I drink too much, I sleep around, I shoot pool, and I party. Trust me...we're not friends," she hissed.

"You don't have be cruel," David told her, as he put his arm around Mary.

"Hmm...you're cute as hell, but too boyscout for me probably. Let me know if you get bored with rainbow kisses here. I could show you a good time," she purred. But he ignored her and led Mary toward the door.

"Come on...let's go," he told her, as he planted a kiss on her hair and led her out of the room.

"David...what happened to her? How could she be so different? Just like that?" Mary asked dejectedly.

"I...I don't know, my love. I'm sure she's just confused right now," he replied, as he saw Gold and Jefferson approaching. He knew this was going to be ugly for Gold too.

"How is she?" Jefferson asked.

"Physically, she's fine, but…" David said. But he was cut off.

"I need to see her," Gold interrupted.

"Gold...wait!" he warned, but the pawnbroker ignored him.

"What's going on?" Jefferson asked. David sighed.

"Hey...I'm going to get us some coffee. I'll be right back," he promised, as he kissed her tenderly. She nodded.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too," she replied, finding comfort in him, as he walked down the hall with Jefferson.

"She did it, didn't she?" he asked.

"I think so," David replied.

"Regina got her," the hatter said.

"And gave her false memories," the prince confirmed.

Regina had struck back and somehow, they knew the Queen wasn't done...