AN: See chapter 1 for story notes and summaries.

Ships: Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, eventual Swanfire, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming BroT3. :)

Please consider leaving a review. Feedback is much appreciated.

Also, feel free to follow me on Tumblr lilacmoon83. In an effort to grow my Snowing fanfiction blog on Tumblr and get more visibility for my writing, I invite anyone following my stories here on to follow me on Tumblr. I have a sizable following here on , but that hasn't really transferred over to Tumblr. I've been considering doing face claims for all original characters in this story too. So if you're interested, give me a follow on Tumblr and help my stories get a bit more visibility through reblogs and shares!

Thanks for awesome the reviews. Here are individual responses:

Barratta Jennifer: Yep, Regina is definitely going to pay.

Ragasweas: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! If you're anxious for Snow to wake up...then this is your chapter! I know, it took forever, but the curse is almost over!

AshGreg: Yes, we are extremely close to the curse breaking! It's going to be a fun ride! Your questions about the potion will be answered in this chapter and the next. There's so much going on that this one had to be split into part 1 and part 2. Yes, Regina having to see Henry actually eat it may have an impact. Glad you're enjoying!

BooksinmyDreams: Yep, it's going to be a wild ride! Glad you're enjoying!

Saberius Prime: Yep, Henry ate the apple! We're down to the wire now. As for David, that will be the nail biter, but I think you'll like how it all goes down. :)

Naomi Blue: Thanks, glad you like the twist!

Number Ten: Yep, Henry ate it and now it's up to Emma. It's going to be a wild ride!

Guest: Yep, Henry is in a pickle!

XxThe-Crest-of-AnubisxX: Thanks! So glad you like the story so much. Updates for this one are every Wednesday night.

Paulaa90: Yeah, Jefferson was definitely out of his mind trusting Regina. It's going to be a wild ride for Snow and David. And yep, Henry ate the apple now and the only way to save him is break the curse. Regina has lost complete control now. Glad you're enjoying!

Izzypirelli: Yeah, Jefferson really went mad there at the end. But he'll actually have some development since I won't be writing him out here. I know, I'm often torn on August too. I blame Geppetto and I'm one of the few writers that don't like how he got a total pass in the show. He's not going to here. You're right, if magic is brought back, that makes Damon more dangerous. But no magic...no finding Baelfire. So it's a sticky widget. I'm glad you like the accountability in this story. That's what it's going to be about. And Henry and Emma having that parallel with seeing a therapist in this story is going bring them closer than they were in the canon. I'll be exploring that in flashbacks a bit in my season 2 so to speak. Glad you're enjoying! :)

Cassie: Yes, what Jefferson did was stupid, but desperation makes you do crazy things. Yeah, with David and Damon, it's never a fair fight, because Damon cheats. Yeah, Emma knew there at the end it was a choice between Henry and her parents. And she knew he parents would never let her choose them over their grandson. Henry knew too so he ate it instead. Glad you're enjoying!

Sara K M: Thanks! Glad you liked the twist. I knew it needed to be a little different, but wanted to keep the characterization as close as possible. Glad you liked the conversation with August. Gold has been more forthcoming in this and I enjoy the family dynamic too, so much so, that I'll be kind of doing what the show should have done and made one big family out of the Charming-Stiltskin clan. I do wonder what the potion would do if it was used some other way too. Unfortunately, this will not the be the story I try to explore that. Magic = finding Bae so Emma's going to let him have it. I think you'll like the twist on it though. ;)

It's important to remember again that most of the scenes in this chapter are occurring at the same time. You'll understand as you read.

Dreaming Out Loud

Chapter 38: A Land Without Magic, Pt 1

Mary Margaret parked her station wagon at Damon's club. In all her years, the number which she couldn't seem to recount, she had never come here. She had heard stories about the things that went on here and never dared to even step foot in this end of town. A group of men that were loitering nearby around a broken down car, smoking cigarettes, let their eyes travel over her in a leering, hungry manner. She shivered, but walked toward the door with determination. No one was going to stop her from finding her husband. She had never thought Regina would allow there to be such in her town, but she supposed every town had sights like this, even Storybrooke, where the unsavory gathered. The Rabbit Hole seemed classy compared to this place.

She walked in and her eyes were immediately assaulted by the color red. It was everywhere and not a cheerful red like she might wear to compliment her dark hair and fair skin. But a blood red that set the hairs on the back of her neck on end.

"Welcome Mary...I'm so glad you have finally arrived. This will soon be your new home, after all," Damon leered, as he leaned against the bar.

"Where is my husband?" she demanded to know.

"Your husband barged in here very rudely earlier. He tried to tell me that I couldn't see you anymore...and that just didn't do for me," he replied.

"What have you done to him?" Mary demanded to know again.

"Oh nothing yet...I've been waiting for you so we can commence with his execution," Damon stated, as two men dragged David in from the back room.

"David!" Mary cried, as she started toward him, but Damon grabbed her arm and held her back. Her husband was sporting a purple bruise on his cheek and there was dried blood on his face, coming from a cut on his forehead. His shirt was torn open and she could see bruises on his chest and torso.

"The boys got a little rough, but he wasn't being very cooperative," Damon said. Mary felt overwhelming anger at this man burning in her. Anger was rarely an emotion she had truly let herself feel, but this man had just kept pushing her to feel so many negative things. The timid, meek Mary Margaret Blanchard had never hated anyone...except this man. Regina had come close at times, but never like this. He had stalked her for years, made her feel uncomfortable under his possessive gaze, and never took no for an answer.

But the threats he had made against her husband's life had finally pushed her too far and she was determined not to let him get away with it this time. She wound up and punched him in the face. He looked shocked by the power behind her punch, for it was even stronger than the time she had punched him at the Rabbit Hole just weeks ago. He angrily grabbed her arms and threw her down. She hit the floor with a painful thud.

"You Son of a Bitch!" David screamed, as he struggled with his captors.

"You know, I was going to make him watch me take you, but now I think I just want him dead," Damon hissed, as he motioned to the two men.

"Hold her boys…" he ordered, as he picked up a large curved dagger and tested the sharpness.

"Hmm...a dull blade. This might not be as quick as you'd like," Damon threatened, as he walked around behind David, who struggled with his bonds and took a sharp breath, as he felt Damon pull his head back to expose his neck to the knife.

"No...no...please, I'll do anything you want! Please don't kill him!" Mary cried.

"You had your chance for that," Damon hissed, as her eyes locked with David's.

"I love you...and I know whatever life I find myself in next that you'll find me...someday," he told her, as a tear slipped down his cheek.

"If you ever need...anything…"

"You'll find me?"

"Always,"

"I almost believe that," she heard the words in her head, a conversation in their voices that they never had...or had they?

She drew a starved breath and gazed up at him, as he smiled down over her.

"You...you found me,"

"Did you ever doubt I would?"

"Truthfully, the glass coffin gave me pause," she said, as he chuckled.

"Well, you never have to worry. I will always find you," he promised.

There were more flashes, David dressed in a leather jerkin and pants, like something out medieval times and herself with long hair and clothes she had never seen before. They were standing at an alter before a dark skinned man and then kissed to seal their vows. They seemed so happy and later, he held a pendant and it was swinging side to side in front of her.

"We're going to have a child…"

"Is there something you need to tell me?"

"Someday…" she clarified.

"Well of course we are…" he agreed, as their lips met again.

She gasped, as more memories assaulted her.

'Sorry I'm late…" the Queen drawled, as she swept into the room.

It's the Queen!" Doc cried fearfully, as Snow pulled her husband's sword from his scabbard and leveled it at her.

"She's not a Queen anymore. We won and took back the Kingdom. She is nothing," Snow growled, as Charming pulled her back.

"No...no...no...don't sink to her level. There's no need,"

"Oh, but I've brought a gift," the Queen retorted.

"We want nothing from you," Snow refuted.

"Oh, but you shall have it. My gift is this day, for soon my real work will begin. I shall destroy your happiness...if it's the last thing I do," Regina promised, as she waltzed toward the exit.

"HEY!" Charming called, as she turned back and he hurled his blade at her, only for her to disappear in a puff of purple smoke.

The memories continued to play in her head like a montage of images until she saw herself stumble into a nursery, clutching her midsection in pain and she wanted to scream, as she saw David lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

"No...no...no…" she cried, as she fell to her knees beside him and caressed his face.

"Please...come back to me," she pleaded, as she kissed him. But it didn't work and he didn't open his eyes. She held him in her arms and sobbed, as the winds whipped violently around her and tore the roof off the castle.

"Don't worry dear...soon you won't even remember him," the Queen goaded.

"Where are we going?" Snow cried.

"A terrible place where the only happy ending...will be mine,"

Her emerald eyes widened in shock, as she remembered everything and then looked at the monster that was about to kill her husband. She had no idea how he was even alive at all, but she knew for sure that she wasn't going to let him take Charming away.

The two brutes holding her arms never knew what hit them, as Snow White smashed her knee into the groin of the one on her right and elbowed the other in the gut, before kneeing him as well.

"Well...I guess you'd like to be taught a lesson first," Damon said, truly surprised by Mary's ferocity. Punching was one thing, but he had never seen this timid, docile woman show so much fire before. He liked it in a way...but it had to be a fire he had control of or it just wouldn't do. But he would underestimate her again, for Mary could have never fought him off like this. But this was Snow White. She hit him with a chair, breaking it to pieces and knocking the monster to the floor in a painful heap. She moved quickly and cut David loose with the knife dropped by Damon and they ran out the back way of the club, hand in hand.

Damon growled and pulled himself from the wreckage of the splintered wood, as blood dripped down his face from the cut on his forehead, which was only one of multiple wounds. He let out a howl of frustration and grabbed his gun, before following them.

"Mary…" David called, as she pulled him along and they ran through the woods.

"We have to keep going, David…" she urged, barely realizing that he was still calling her Mary. She stopped then and turned to him, gazing into his eyes. She thought about everything they had been through since he woke up from the coma and realized he had been awake the whole time. He had loved Mary when she thought no one could love her. He had been there for their daughter in a way she wasn't able to. He had protected her from a monster that shouldn't even still be breathing and made her feel whole in a way Mary Margaret had never thought possible.

"Not Mary…" she told him, watching the emotions on his face light up with awe and realization.

"Snow…" he uttered and she nodded, as the daylight between them was quashed.

"You're going to pay...both of you when I catch you!" they heard a voice scream in the near distance.

"We need to go," Snow urged, as they started running again. A proper reunion would have to wait for a moment.

"I wish I knew these woods better…" she lamented. Back home, finding a hiding place for them would have been as easy as breathing for her. But Mary Margaret didn't have the experience in the Maine woods like Snow had in the Enchanted Forest.

"We're headed west...it has to eventually take us back to town," he chimed in. It didn't surprise her that he knew that. Growing up on a farm, Charming had the ability to tell what direction they were going and what time of day it was just by the position of the sun. She had learned to do this too, but it had always been like second nature for him. Something that didn't require much thinking for him at all.

As they ran, they were almost thrown off balance, as a wave of rainbow magic swept through them. They stopped and looked at each other.

"Was that…" Snow uttered.

"It was...the curse was broken!" he said. Snow grinned.

"She did it...Emma did it!" she said, as he picked her up and spun her around.

They stared at each other, as he slowly lowered her feet back to the ground.

"You found me," she said.

"Did you ever doubt I would?" he asked. Tears pricked her eyes, as she grabbed him by the collar and crushed her lips against his. Their lips parted, as his phone rang and he answered it.

"Hello?" he answered..

"Dad...thank God! Where are you?" Emma exclaimed.

"We're in the woods. We got away from Damon, but he's on our heels," David called, but was cut off, as they cried out and fell into a sinkhole. When Deimos caught up, he smirked deviously. Knowing the fall would not truly hurt him with his memories returned, he jumped in after them.

"Lacey...please…" Gold pleaded, practically panicked and livid. When she came in and told him that Regina gave her a fat check supposedly from Moe and encouraged her to see the world, he saw red. But now...he just felt like crumbling at the thought of losing her. If she crossed that town line before the curse broke...he'd lose her forever.

"Look...I just came to return your key as a courtesy and then I'm gone. We had fun...but that's all it was. I can't stay in this hick town forever and now that I've got the cash, I'm gone," she said. Gold couldn't disagree with the first part of her statement. They did have fun. He enjoyed his time with Lacey far more than he thought he ever would, for she indulged his darker urges in a way Belle just didn't. But now he was starting to realize that he was wrong about Lacey being what he wanted. It was easier to be with Lacey. He could do those darker things and she liked it. Sometimes, it was harder to be with Belle, but he realized that was why he loved her. She made him a better man and even when he faltered, she was still there like a light guiding him back. He was about to beg her to stay once more when the shop door burst open and Emma came hurrying in with Henry in her arms.

"What the hell happened to the kid?" Lacey asked, as Regina followed the blonde in.

"You…" Gold growled, as he came out from behind the counter and swung his cane at her. Regina ducked away and put her hands up.

"Gold...as much as I want to kill her too, now isn't the time," Emma snapped. Gold seethed and glared at the Queen.

"Don't go far, Your Majesty. I'm not done with you," he hissed, as he approached Emma, where she had laid the boy on the counter top.

"What happened?" he asked. Emma held up the apple, which now had two bites out of it.

"She wanted me to eat it...I think Damon has my parents. But Henry beat me to it," Emma replied.

"Smart boy," he praised.

"Excuse me? Try incredibly reckless!" Emma cried.

"No...you eating that apple would have doomed us all. That's why she wanted you to eat it," he said, pointing at the Queen.

"If your father is killed by Damon and your mother never remembers, there would be no one to wake you," Gold reminded.

"August mentioned the true love potion...he said I needed to find it to break the curse," Emma stated.

"True love potion?" Regina asked.

"Oh yes, I managed to bottle some back in our land...from her parents," Rumple replied.

"Then I hid it away for a rainy day," he added.

"Well...it's storming like a bitch. Where is it?" Emma asked.

"You don't need that potion to wake your son," Rumple replied.

"No...you have to save him...you have to save my son!" Regina cried. Rumple clenched his teeth and glowered at her.

"I don't have to do anything for you, Madam Mayor. You're the reason your son is in this predicament in the first place. If I do anything, it will be for Henry," he growled, before turning back to Emma.

"You already know exactly how to save him. It's a sleeping curse," he reminded.

"Okaaay...this is all interesting and crazy, but I'm gonna go," Lacey said, as she bolted. Gold looked terrified that she left, but Emma put her hand up,

"Don't worry, she'll be back in a minute," Emma replied, as she brushed Henry's hair away from his forehead.

"How did I not realize it was that simple?" she wondered.

"Sometimes the things right in front of us are the hardest to see. I just hope you'll still get me that potion. It's the key to finding my son," Rumple implored.

"You helped me save mine...I'll help you find yours," she promised.

"I love you Henry," she whispered, as she leaned down and pressed her lips to his forehead. A wave of pure, rainbow colored magic emanated from the kiss, sweeping over them and then throughout the entire town. Henry gasped for air and opened his eyes.

"I love you too…" he said, smiling up at her.

"Henry…" Regina said, as she reached out for him. But he pulled away, as Belle burst into the shop.

"Rumple!" she cried, as she ran to him and he enfolded her in a hug.

"You did it! You broke the curse!" Henry exclaimed.

"Sure did kid…" she agreed, as she suddenly remembered her parent's predicament.

"My parents...Damon, he'll have his memories!" Emma cried, as she opened her phone and speed dialed her father.

"Hello?" his voice came in a breathy tone, like he was catching his breath.

"Dad...thank God! Where are you?" she exclaimed.

"We're in the woods. We got away from Damon, but he's on our heels," David called. Then suddenly, Emma heard two screams and what sounded like collapsing ground. Then the line went dead.

"Dad!" Emma cried, as she hung up.

"They were in the woods, but then it sounded like it was collapsing around them," she said gravely.

"Sinkholes," Regina blurted out, as all eyes turned to her.

"Like the ones that were happening with the mines. It might have happened in the woods, caused by the curse breaking," she said.

"Oh so you're going to blame it on that?" Emma snapped, as she started out the door.

"Wait Miss Swan...if it was a sinkhole then you'll waste a lot of time trying to find them in the woods," Gold said.

"Then what do you suggest?" she asked.

"Beneath the library. It's the center of town and where all the tunnels lead. If they're okay and knowing your parents, they are, then they'll be headed that way," he replied. She nodded.

"That also happens to be where the potion is, but you're going to need this to get it," he said, as he put a case on the counter and opened it up.

"Is that…" she uttered. He smirked.

"Your father's sword," he revealed.

"Does he know you have that?" she asked, as she picked up the weapon and he shrugged.

"So...where exactly is the potion down there and why do I need a sword?" she asked.

"Think about it. I hid it for a rainy day," he reminded and Henry gasped, remembering another time Rumpelstiltskin had said the same thing.

"The golden egg! The golden egg that Gramps hid inside Maleficent for you!" Henry exclaimed. Gold allowed a rare smile.

"Give the lad a prize," he said. Emma looked at the Queen.

"You brought a dragon to Storybrooke?" Emma asked incredulously. Regina swallowed.

"It was her punishment to stay in her dragon form and sleep for the duration of the curse," Regina responded.

"Punishment?! Do you hear yourself?" Emma cried.

"If my parents are hurt...or worse, then you better find a good place to hide," the blonde warned, as she ran out and headed for the library with Henry following.

"Wait..no, Henry!" Regina called, as she hurried after.

David groaned, as he opened his eyes and looked down where Snow was unconscious in his arms.

"Snow…" he said, as he shook her and pecked her on the lips. She moaned and opened her eyes.

"Hey…" she said dreamily. He smiled.

"Hey…" he repeated, as he got up and helped her up.

"How did we survive that without any broken bones?" she wondered, as she looked up.

"We landed on this thicket of moss. It cushioned the fall," he said, as he took her hand.

"We need to move...he'll be coming after us," he said.

"How is he even alive?" she asked, as he led them through the darkened tunnel. She took her phone out and used the flashlight tool on it.

"I don't know...I haven't been able to get a straight answer on that," he said, as he sighed.

"There's so much I need to tell you…" he lamented, as they trekked along.

"We'll have time, my love," she assured, as she squeezed his hand. He looked over at her and felt so much relief. He loved Mary just as much as Snow, a fact which he hadn't planned on, but having Snow back was truly like having the other half of his soul back.

"You had all your memories from the time you awoke, didn't you?" she asked curiously. He nodded.

"Yes...though I think Regina planned to change that. Gold saved me from her cursing me with false memories and probably a fake marriage to Kathryn," he replied.

"He helped you? That doesn't sound like Rumpelstiltskin...at least not without a price," she said.

"I know, but suffice to say that he wanted the curse broken as much as I did. That's a whole other story," he replied.

"There's something else I need to tell you first though," he said, as they kept moving.

"I promised I would tell you the moment you were awake. I wanted to tell you the moment I found out, but…" he lamented.

"Charming...it's okay. I wouldn't have understood any of this as Mary," she reminded. He sighed.

"I know...I just...I tell you everything. That's how we've always been," he replied. She smiled, reminded of a similar time where he was this flustered about something. It had been after he proposed and told her that he wasn't the real James. He'd been so scared that she'd be angry with him or reject him, because he wasn't an actual royal. She of course hadn't been too surprised. It had already been hard to believe that this wonderful, loving man had been raised by the ruthless King George. Now she was curious as to what kind of secret had him so flustered again. But unfortunately, all of that would have to wait, as bullets ricocheted off the walls around them.

David grabbed her and they hit the ground, as Deimos fired his weapon wildly into the air.

"At long last, Snow White, we have been reunited!" he called into the darkness. Snow shuddered at the sound of his voice and felt all the horrible memories of the encounters with him, both as Snow and Mary surface in her.

"How is he alive...how is this happening? He was gone...we killed him," Snow cried, as he scooped her into his arms.

"I know, I know, I'm here, my darling...I'm not letting him touch you," he promised.

"But he's awake now...he's even more dangerous than he was! As Damon, he almost killed you!" she cried. He swallowed thickly and pressed his lips to her forehead, before hurrying them along. They had to find a way to the surface and as they exited the tunnel, they found themselves in an open cavern.

"Snow…" he said, motioning to the glass coffin, which was covered in moss and dust.

"Wait...I've been here. This is below the library!" she exclaimed, as a rumbling was heard. He pulled her close, as there was movement before them and a dragon rose up, towering over them.

"Deimos isn't the only one awake…" David uttered.

"Maleficent…" Snow recalled, as she noticed her egg nearby. Maleficent still had her unborn child and now that the curse was broken, the egg would likely soon hatch. If they could get through to her in her dragon form, then they would have an ally in her against Deimos, for he was the real monster in this cavern.

They held each other, as Deimos closed in and the dragon loomed over them, not yet recognizing them. They knew they had to do something and quickly if they were going to escape alive…