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 awesomethe reviews. Here are individual responses:
BooksInMyDreams: Wow, thanks! What a compliment! I would love to publish a book someday. That would be a dream come true. :)
Barratta Jennifer: Thanks, glad you're enjoying it!
Saberius Prime: Yep, Emma is a believer already. Glad you're enjoying!
AshGreg: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them! I know, George is awful, but he's a great antagonist so it's always great to hate on him. Yep, the heroes are going to fight back! Glad you enjoyed the conversation between Emma and Gold and the budding friendships.
ragsweas: Yep, I hate King George too. Yeah, he's probably worst of all. It's going to be quite a journey as things play out!
beth1980: So sorry you were sick, but glad this could be a distraction for you. Glad you liked the scene with Emma and Gold. I agree, he over complicates things. I know, I've really grown to love the Persephone I've created. It's always difficult to know how OC's will turn out and develop, but I love her and I'm so anxious for Snow and David to know who she is. I have to make myself not rush it. I know, ugh George. I can't wait for Mary to find out they're actually truly family too.
Sara K M: Yeah, the villains won the last round. I'm glad to know I'm not making it too easy, because at this point it would be very easy to have everything happen, but I want it to be gradual. Glad you like the romantic moment in the dreamscape. Those are my favorite moments too. Glad you think the conversation with Emma and Gold was well written. They aren't characters I usually write interacting a lot so glad to know I got it right. As for the Lacey conversation, I think I was trying to show how these thoughts were just planted in her so she sounded awkward. I'm not sure it came across like it was supposed to though. I'll probably tweak that last part a little when I get time. Glad you're enjoying though!
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 22: Suspicious Minds
Gold entered the hospital room and looked at the woman in the bed, instantly noticing there was something different in her eyes. He tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut, but then she opened her mouth.
"Who are you?" she asked in disdain.
"I...I am Mr. Gold," he stammered. It wasn't often that he of all people was caught off guard and he did not like it when it happened. She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you another supposed friend?" she asked.
"You could say that," he replied. She rolled her eyes.
"Well, if you're here to tell me all about the fun things we did when I was Belle, then save it. I've got my real memories back now," she stated. Rage burned inside him, as he thought about how to make the Queen pay for this.
"Belle…" he started to say.
"Lacey...my name is Lacey," she corrected.
"If you'll just hear me out...I can explain all of this," he pleaded. She gave him a strange look.
"Explain what? How we were shacking up together when you were convincing me I was this Belle?" she asked.
"It wasn't like that...I found you in the psychiatric ward of the hospital," he tried to explain.
"You...get away from my Lacey," Moe French said, as he hobbled into her room.
"You're the reason she's here at all. You did this," Gold hissed.
"Belle...this is the man that put you in the psych ward. He's the reason you ended up back here," he explained.
"Lacey...my name is Lacey," she corrected.
"Lacey dear...you remember," Moe said with relief in his voice. But that relief would be short lived.
"Oh I remember...he's definitely right about the fact that I'm here because if you," she hissed. "Lacey…" he pleaded.
"You had me committed!" She growled.
"Sweetheart, it was for your own good. You were quite disturbed. I was trying to protect you," he tied to explain. She laughed coldly.
"Protect me? By locking me away like a mental patient? Well, I won't be controlled by you again father, so kindly get the hell out," she spat.
"But…" he started to say
"GET OUT!" She screamed, as he stumbled out of the room. And she glared at Gold.
"Belle…" he pleaded.
"I'm not Belle and whatever little fantasy you were living with her is over. Get out," she spat. Tears stung in his eyes.
"Get out!" She demanded and he did as she asked. By the time he left the room, his tears were replaced with barely contained rage.
"Gold…" David started to say.
"Regina is going to pay…" he hissed.
"She is. We won't let her win," David agreed.
"We?" Gold questioned.
"We're friends and you don't have to go through this alone," David replied.
"I don't need friends," he refuted, as he turned away.
"Don't do this...pushing us away is exactly what Regina wants you to do," Jefferson warned.
"He's right. Divide and conquer, if we let her. But she won't win in the end if we stick together," David added.
"Plus if anyone can help you romance Belle back to you...you should look no further than Prince Charmz here," Jefferson said, as David cast him a sideways glance. Gold sighed.
"I know this is bad. I mean, Damon is walking free and now Belle has curse memories. Sticking together is the only way we stand a chance now," David implored. And as much as it was Gold's first reaction to shun everyone around him in his anger, he knew the Prince and the Hatter were right. Separated, Regina could easily pick them off one by one. But if Emma was going to break the curse, sooner rather than later, it was going to take a united front. Working with people just still wasn't his forte, but he would do anything to get Belle back and that meant getting the curse broken.
"Though I loathe to admit it, you're probably right. We all want the same thing and that is for Regina to pay," Gold stated.
"And Damon...him walking free is an outrage," David growled.
"Well, if you weren't so keen on being all noble and heroic, we could stage a little accident for him," Jefferson suggested. The Prince sighed.
"You know I can't do that...as much as he might deserve it," David said.
"So you're going to let him go after Mary again? Because you know he's going to," Jefferson replied.
"No...I'll stop him. He touches her again and I'll put a bullet in him," David promised.
"Now we're talking," the hatter agreed.
"I'm going to take Mary home...she's pretty upset," he said, as he turned back and put his arm around her, as she sat in a chair outside Belle's room.
"Hey...you wanna go home?" he asked. She shrugged.
"Maybe a walk and then Granny's instead?" she asked. He smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Of course...that sounds great," he agreed, as he took her hand and they left.
Emma leaned against the bug, which was parked outside Regina's house. Fortunately, the Mayor was at work, so she had come to spend a few moments with Henry since the town was quiet for the moment. She leafed through the book, smiling gently, as she saw her parents story play out before her.
"I don't know, kid. It sure feels like the villains have the upper hand right now. I mean, I may be Sheriff, but I couldn't even keep a guy like Damon in jail after all he did. Just seems like the curse has stacked the deck against the heroes," she mentioned.
"Of course it has...that's how a story always goes. It always gets worse, before it gets better," Henry replied.
"That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence, you know," she chided.
"I just mean that it always seemed really bad before the hero figures out how to save the day," Henry said.
"Isn't that mostly in comic books and stuff?" she asked. Henry rolled his eyes and her eyes widened, as she saw herself in him at that moment.
"No...looks at Grams and Gramps' story. Snow White was trapped in a sleeping curse. And Prince Charming had to face a dragon and travel through the infinite forest to find her and give her true love's kiss!" he said, gesturing grandly.
"And I get that kid, but we're dealing with a place without magic this time. I mean...this is the place that's supposed to have no happy endings. As much progress as we've made on that, there is still a long way to go and a lot of unhappy people," she replied. His shoulders sunk and she hugged him.
"But we'll get there...I promise," he said. He smiled up at her.
"I gotta get to the station. Behave yourself kid," she said, as she got in the bug.
"No promises," he joked. As the bug sped away, Henry was about to go back inside when he heard an engine roar and saw a motorcycle come around the corner. Curiously, the rider slowed and parked in front of the house, before removing his helmet. Henry hadn't ever seen this person before and stepped back slightly, as the stranger approached.
"Hi," the man greeted.
"Um...I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," Henry said. The man smirked.
"Yeah, because you look like a kid that always does what he's told," the man joked, as he held out his hand.
"I'm August W. Booth," he said, as Henry shook his hand.
"I'm Henry Mills," the boy replied.
"Now we're not strangers anymore. Do you know if there's an inn or motel around here?" he asked. Henry frowned.
"You're not from around here?" the boy asked.
"No...I've been traveling and writing my book," he replied. Henry was stunned. No one came to Storybrooke, not until Emma anyway. Come to think of it, Ms. Kore came from outside Storybrooke too, but that always slipped his mind, because she seemed to be so friendly, especially to Ms. Blanchard. But now if there was another stranger...it had to mean something. Was the curse weakening or did this stranger know more than he was letting on? Did Ms. Kore know more than she was letting on?
"Uh Granny's...she has a diner and an Inn on Main," he replied.
"Thanks kid," he replied, as he drove off. He knew his Mom told him he had to stay home, but he grabbed his backpack instead and ran off to find Emma.
After a walk and coming to the diner for breakfast and hot chocolate, David kissed her goodbye and went to the station for his shift, while she stayed behind. To take her mind off the situation with Belle, she was reading the book she had given her before the whole situation at the library happened. She found the book very intriguing. She had never read a version of Persephone's story like this one before and certainly not where her daughter happened to be Princess Snow White. She had never really seen a well known fairy tale woven into a Greek Myth before and wondered how such a unique story wasn't well known or widely mass produced.
"Can I get you a refill?" a voice asked and Mary looked up to see a blonde waitress, who was quite heavily pregnant.
"Oh...sure, that would be great," Mary replied, wondering what a girl that far along was doing carrying heavy trays full of food. Mary also felt a spark of envy in her as well. That wasn't unusual for her either though, for it was no secret that she loved children. Seeing babies used to make her feel hopeless, for she thought she'd never have that possibility. But now that she was with David...that possibility didn't seem so farfetched anymore.
She was about to ask the girl if she needed any help with all the trays when she was summoned to the Mayor's table.
"Waitress...waitress…" Regina hissed, as Mary craned her neck to see her sharing lunch with Kathryn, giving her a sour feeling. There was no doubt that Regina was making up more lies about her and David to spout to Kathryn. Most people were happy for her and David, but there was a certain circle that bought into Regina's lies and were convinced that she was some sort of tramp that had prevented him from the possibility of reuniting with his ex-wife. For this group of people, it was all about status and appearance.
"I asked for a salad with dressing on the side. This salad is drenched in dressing!" Regina complained.
"Oh...I'm so sorry, Madam Mayor…" Ashley fretted, as she picked up the plate and put it on her tray.
"And Kathryn is still waiting for a refill on her drink," Regina continued to berate her.
"I'll get that right away, I promise," she stammered, as she turned to take the trays into the back. But unfortunately did not see the chair that had been pushed into the aisle and stumbled, sending her trays, glasses and plates everywhere. At that point, Ashley looked like she was going to burst into tears and struggled to get down to clean it up. Mary hurried over and started helping her.
"Honey...are you okay?" she asked. Ashley sniffed.
"I'm fine...you don't have to do that," she replied. Mary smiled gently at her.
"I don't mind at all. I'm Mary Margaret," she said. The blonde sniffed.
"Ashley…" she replied.
"Well...look at that, tramps do stick together. Come along Kathryn, I think we can have lunch at the cafe down the road. It's has a bit classier fare and no harlots on their knees," Regina hissed. Kathryn looked a bit uncomfortable by Regina's outright cruelty, but went along with her. Mary helped her get up, as Ruby came over to help.
"I'm so sorry Ruby," Ashley sniffed.
"Don't worry about it, sweetie. When Regina decides she's going to be a bitch, there was nothing you could have done to prevent her from doing it," Ruby said, as she sent her to the back to take a break, while Mary kept helping.
"Thanks...I got it if you want," Ruby said. Mary smiled.
"I don't mind," the raven haired beauty replied.
"I checked the ticket...she put the order in right and Regina poured the dressing on herself," Ruby blurted out. Mary looked up.
"Wow...that's cruel even for Regina," Mary mentioned.
"Yeah, well Ashley is eighteen and pregnant out of wedlock. Her boyfriend dumped her when he found out, because his Dad doesn't approve," Ruby gossiped.
"That's terrible...guess I get the tramp comment now. I mean...we know she thinks I'm a tramp," Mary replied. Ruby snorted.
"Well, you're in good company and you're not a tramp. If the closed minded idiots in this town think David should still be with a woman he doesn't even know or love, then they're crazy," she said. Mary smiled.
"Thanks…" she replied.
"So...how does that work, you and David?" she asked.
"What?" Mary asked.
"I mean...for a while, it totally worked for me to, you know, just be unattached and have one night stands. But lately...I don't know, I see you and David together and it makes me feel like maybe I want something special," Ruby replied. Mary smiled.
"What David and I have is...wonderful. It's beyond wonderful. I never thought I'd find anyone, let alone my prince charming. I have no doubt that you'll find someone too...but I do know that you probably won't find them in a one night stand," she advised. Ruby smirked.
"Yeah...be thankful you dodged the Whale bullet," she muttered. Mary's eyes widened.
"You and Whale?" she asked. She nodded.
"For a guy who proclaims himself as such a lady's man, you'd think he'd be better at it," Ruby complained. Mary covered her mouth, as she choked in surprise.
"Oh...well that's something I so needed to know," she said. Ruby giggled.
"Sorry...sometimes I over share," she replied.
"So...um since we're on the subject…" she added, wriggling her eyebrows. Mary opened her mouth and looked at the other woman in disbelief, as they carried the broken dishware into the back.
"Ruby...I am not telling you about my love life," she protested. Ruby laughed.
"Yeah, you don't have to. Your face says it all," she teased.
"Ruby…" she protested.
"Yep...you're getting some good lovin' from deputy Nolan," she teased, as she grabbed the mop.
"Ruby!" she chided.
"Okay, okay...I'll stop," she said.
"And if you must know, I would use the word incredible," Mary replied, with a sly smile, as she returned to her seat.
"I knew it...it's always the quiet ones," she muttered.
Emma arrived at the station to find her father doing paperwork, which she greatly appreciated.
"You know, you don't have to do all the paperwork," she teased. He smiled.
"I know how much you hate it and I really don't mind. It keeps my mind busy and off the fact that Damon Tromera is walking free right now," he replied. She snorted.
"I know what you mean...I'd give anything to be able to storm his sleazy club and arrest him for good. Screw a trial," she grumbled.
"We'll get there, Em. We may have to play by this world's rules for now, but you will break the curse and he will be locked up," he insisted.
"You sound like Henry. He somehow stays confident that I can still break the curse," she mentioned. He smiled.
"You will break it...I know it. Listen to the kid," he advised.
"I know...it just feels like in past two days, we've taken more than a few steps backwards. Albert Spencer has more power than any D.A. I've ever seen. He may as well be judge, jury, and executioner. Regina does whatever the hell she wants and gets away with it. And Belle…" she started to say.
"I know...I know it seems bad. It's hard for me too. As much as I've fallen for your mother as Mary Margaret all over again, I miss her as Snow. We're going to get there though," he assured.
"I know...guess I inherited her impatience though," she mused. He smiled warmly.
"You did for sure," he agreed, as Henry came hurrying in.
"Gramps...Emma…" he huffed and puffed.
"Whoa kid, hold up. Where's the fire?" David asked, as he hooked his arm around the kid's waist and sat up up on his desk.
"There's another stranger in town!" Henry cried.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked.
"A guy on a motorcycle rode into town and asked me if there was a place he could get a room. He came from outside Storybrooke, just like you and Ms. Kore!" Henry cried.
"Wait...Ms. Kore is from outside Storybrooke?" Emma asked.
"She told Mary that she came here from Boston. Are we sure people can't just stumble into town now?" he asked.
"He's got a point, kid. Maybe I messed up something at the town line when I came to town. The curse is getting weaker," Emma replied.
"Maybe...but this place isn't on a map. You kind of have to know exactly where it is to get here," Henry said.
"He's got a point too. I didn't really think much of Stephanie's presence here in town. She seems so fond of your mother and vice-versa. But maybe it's time I ask her a few questions," David replied.
"Not a bad idea. And this other guy...you said he was looking for a room?" Emma asked. Henry nodded.
"Yeah, I told him Granny runs an inn," he replied.
"Your mother's at Granny's too. I think Stephanie was meeting her there later," David said.
"Well, looks like we're all going to Granny's," Emma replied.
Jefferson watched Grace play at the park through his telescope with a longing stare. He was no closer to getting her back and was starting to wonder if the Savior really could defeat the Queen. She certainly had the deck stacked against her and it was only a matter of time before Regina would strike again. His first instinct was to beg or even threaten Emma to get his hat to work again. Then he could grab Grace and leave this accursed place behind. But he knew he couldn't do that to her.
Before meeting David, he might have thrown caution to the wind and tried to carry out such a plan. But he knew deep down, it would cause his daughter unnecessary trauma. She didn't know him as she was now and he would only scare her if he tried to take her away now. He had watched the Prince be a father to a twenty-eight year old woman, who was very much torn between the person she was born to be and the one she had grown up as in this land with no magic. He had a gentle patience that Jefferson so wished he could easily have. He was trying though. Letting the curse play itself out though was getting harder and harder, especially since it seemed the Queen's gloves had come off almost completely. He was better around people, he had found, which was surprising. Being around the Charmings somehow kept his madness at a tolerable level. He had once found it hard to believe that one family might be the key to undoing all Regina's misery she had wrought. But it was less and less unbelievable the more time he spent with them.
As Jefferson surveyed the town, he saw David and Emma with the kid, striding purposefully toward Granny's and was intrigued, especially after he had spied a stranger on a motorcycle go there earlier. Perhaps a trip to Granny's was in order for him as well.
"Hey," Mary smiled brightly, as she saw them come into the diner.
"Hey yourself, beautiful," David said, as he slid into the booth beside her and their lips met tenderly. Mary sighed and felt herself melting into him, as he put his arm around her waist.
"So...hot chocolate with cinnamon for you too, Prince Charming?" Ruby asked. He was slightly startled when she called him that and their lips parted, as he looked up.
"Yeah...that would be fine," he replied and he saw Mary wince.
"Sorry...I kind of called you my prince charming when we were talking early. Is that weird?" she asked. But he only smiled gently.
"Not at all. I only hope I can keep living up to such a title for you," he replied. She smiled and kissed him again.
"I don't see that being a problem," she answered, as she tucked her book away.
"Good book?" he asked.
"It is. I'm almost finished with it. You really should read it when I'm done," she replied, as they kissed again.
"Oh...there's Sister Astrid. I need to talk to her about this year's Miner's Day celebration," Mary said, as he let her out of the booth, just as Stephanie came into the diner.
"Hello David," she stated.
"Stephanie...I'm glad you're here. I have a few questions for you," he said. She smiled and slid into the booth across from him.
"I knew you soon would," she replied.
"Then you know what I'm about to ask you?" he questioned. She nodded.
"Who am I? How did I get here? What is my interest in Mary?" she asked for him.
"Okay...then anything you'd care to share?" he asked in return. She smiled.
"You have nothing to fear from me. I'm here to protect, not just Mary, but her entire family," she replied and his eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?" he asked. She smiled.
"Read that book Mary is reading and then you'll know everything," she replied, as she got up and went to talk to Mary. He watched her go and then looked at the old, beat up leather book with scrutiny. What could this have to do with Stephanie and his wife? He wondered that, as he opened the book and began to look through it...