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!

For one face claim reveal, I will tell that I chose Gal Gadot as the face claim for Persephone...cause she's perfect as Persephone!

Thanks for awesomethe reviews. Here are individual responses:

Barratta Jennifer: Yep, the curse may be broken, but there is still trouble ahead.

Saberius Prime: Nope, no wraith in this version. I wanted to go a different direction. Zelena's back story hasn't changed. She's just found a way to Storybrooke earlier thanks to her dealings with Hades.

Naomi Blue: Yep, we still have the BroT3 going on. David kind of had to pull the "Belle might get hurt card" to get him to not release the wraith, but it worked nonetheless. Yes, I'm bringing Hook and Cora in, albeit in a different way. Snow and Emma falling through the portal in this story just didn't work for what I want to do. Yep, Hades and Hermes are dicks. Glad you're enjoying! :)

Sara K M: Yep, in fact this chapter has an encounter with someone who benefited greatly from the curse and discusses the dwarves too and how it affected each of them both positively and negatively. The girl's conversation was my favorite part of the last chapter too. Yep, David kind of had to use the Belle could get hurt argument to get him to back down, but it worked. Yeah, that was the only reason he admitted what he did about Regina. He was trying to make his case in favor of punishing her. The other two didn't react, I think mostly because Jefferson's absolute disdain for Regina is very high right now. There's a scene at the end of this chapter that shows that. As for David, he'll have more a reaction later in terms to Snow. At this point, the only reason he cares if Regina changes is for Snow's sake. That will change when the strife between Cora and Eva is revealed and how Leopold knew who Regina was when he married her. He doesn't have the whole picture yet. Right now for him, she's just the woman that emotionally and mentally tortured the woman he loves for dozens of years. Yeah, Hades is livid that Zelena double crossed him, but he will still try to sway her to his side. Other than her though, he wants chaos and things will get a bit dicey for sure with all the evil on the way to Storybrooke. :)

ragsweas: Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it! There's lots of things to come!

BooksinmyDreams: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

Paulaa90: Possibly on Lily. I don't know how much I will be including Maleficent yet. I'm not a fan of that whole thing. Bringing her in this way was just my way of fixing the thing with Snowing. But we might. Gold will probably not release the wraith on Regina in this. There's a lot going on and things will get dicey though. Yep, they're all coming to Storybrooke, which is going to cause so much trouble. But you're right, villains never work too well together. They're all going to try to be running their own show and that will clash.

Number Ten: Glad you liked it and you're sticking around. Yes, many worlds are going to converge right in Storybrooke. Yep, Hook will appear, but in a different capacity. Swanfire is endgame. Hope you continue to enjoy.

Beth1980: Yeah, a couple sessions with Archie might be good for Jefferson. The reunion with Grace is in this chapter and it might surprise a bit. Yeah, things worked out so David and Jefferson are still friends and I had to get that joke in there about David being a grandpa. Like sexiest grandpa ever. Snow is reacting better right now. There is a bump or two later on, but she has accepted Persephone for the most part. Yep, Snow is that mom, always making sure Emma is okay. Yes, the wraith looks exactly like a dementor. But no wraith here right now.Yeah, Snow and David definitely need a door, lol. I didn't know what Nurse Ratchet was in reference too either until I read about it so no problem. Glad you're enjoying!

Izzypirelli: Yes, a bit of downtime at Granny's was needed. There is a lot to tell and discuss, which will come about in the coming chapters. Glad you liked the nickname! I love it too and yes, there is so much potential for their relationship. I'm glad for the dreamscape too. Snowing and Emma can have the relationship I always wanted them to have that we didn't see until Hook was in the way. Jefferson is not marked and I'm not sure we'll be seeing the wraith at all. I'm kind of going a completely different direction here. Yes, the BroTP and the BroT3 is back! There will be hurdles, but actually Neal is going to truly bring them together as a family. Since he's not dying in this, the Gold/Charming clan won't fracture and actually will become much closer. They'll have disagreements, but these relationships will make a big difference. Yep, I had to get my Snowing reunion in there. Yeah, they probably need a door, lol. So glad to know that you like the way I write them. I just love them so much. A lot of trouble is on the way to Storybrooke, but as always there will be a balance of danger, adventure, love, and family like in all my stories. Yes, these Gods definitely need lesson in how to treat women. Glad you're enjoying so much. :)

Dreaming Out Loud

Chapter 42: Wide Awake

Snow and David found themselves in the dreamscape when sleep finally took them that evening. They glanced at each other and shared a smile.

"Do you remember…" he started to say and she shook her head.

"I remember everything now," she revealed. He grinned and kissed her soundly. Now that the curse was broken, it seemed their memories of what happened while awake were not hindered.

"There you are. How come it took you guys so long to fall asleep?" Emma asked and then realized what she had just asked. Her eyes widened.

"Never mind...please don't answer that," she pleaded. David chuckled and Snow bit her bottom lip, hoping she wasn't blushing too much.

"I was kind of surprised I came here at all. I guess there's not much need to this place anymore," Emma mentioned. David shrugged.

"Maybe not...but it's a special place for us. I'm glad we still have it," he said.

"Me too, for all intents and purposes...this is where we raised you," Snow agreed. Emma smiled.

"Yeah...I guess I didn't think about it like that," she replied, as they walked around the small lake that had always been there in the lush meadow that she had spent her childhood running through. She could still remember laughing and being chased around by her father. She could still remember falling asleep in her mother's arms and wishing she never had to leave them. And now she didn't. She had found them and her son. She finally had her family. She noticed a glowing red area beyond the meadow on the edge of the dreamscape and frowned.

"Hey...what is that?" she asked, drawing her parent's attention to what she was looking at.

"I'm not sure…" Snow replied.

"Let's go see," David said, as he took her hand and they trekked to the edge of this mysterious realm that had been gifted to them.

As they got closer, they heard a voice crying out for help. And Emma recognized that voice.

"That's Henry! What's he doing here?" she cried, as she pounded on the seemingly invisible barrier that separated the peaceful dreamscape from the fiery red glow of the place beyond them.

"Oh no...I know what this is," Snow uttered.

"What do you mean?" Emma asked.

"It's a side effect of the sleeping curse! It's the fire room...I've been there," Snow cried, as they pounded on the barrier.

"HENRY!" Emma cried.

"HENRY!" Snow and David called.

"Mom? Gramps? Grams?" the boy called out.

"We're trying to get to you, Henry!" Emma promised.

"Henry...do you see a door anywhere?" Snow called.

"I...I don't think so," the boy whimpered and then coughed.

"There's too much smoke! I can't see anything!" he cried, as his voice began to fade.

"What's happening?" Emma cried.

"I think he's waking up," Snow realized, as Emma started to hear him crying out.

"He is…" she uttered, as she disappeared. Snow and David soon followed.

Henry cried out in terror and shot up in his bed. Emma rushed into his room and immediately took him in her arms. Persephone lingered in the doorway, as Emma tried to comfort her son.

"It's okay...it was just a nightmare," she soothed.

"I was in a room and there was all this fire. But then I heard you calling to me," Henry said.

"Yeah...I guess even though it was a nightmare, it was real. I was in the dreamscape with Mom and Dad. Then we heard you calling to us. Mom says…" she started to tell them.

"It was the red room…" Snow interjected, as she and David now stood in the room with Persephone.

"Have you been there, Grams?" Henry asked.

"I'm afraid it's a side effect of the sleeping curse," Snow replied.

"Will I go there every time I go to sleep now?" the boy asked.

"Not forever...eventually I stopped going there. But it's going to take a while, I'm afraid," Snow told him.

"We have to do something. We can't let him keep going to this place," Emma pleaded.

"In the dreamscape...could there be a way for us to get to him?" David asked, directing the question to Persephone.

"I'm not sure...this is uncharted territory. The fact that you can even see or hear Henry in there is surprising. The world of dreams plays by its own set of rules. I'll send a message to Athena though. She may know more," Persephone replied.

"Do you think we could also ask Gold?" Snow questioned her husband.

"Maybe...he might have something. For now...I might have something that can help," he said, as he rushed downstairs and then returned with a candle and some matches. It made Snow smile softly and put a hand to her heart, as she watched her husband place the candle on the bedside table and then light it.

"How will that help?" Henry asked curiously. The Prince glanced back at his wife.

"Well...when your Grams was going through the same thing, I used to light a candle for her to chase the nightmares away," he revealed.

"Did it work?" Henry asked, looking at his grandmother. She smiled.

"Yes...your grandfather was always very good at chasing my nightmares away," she told him.

"I'll stay here with you until you fall back asleep," David said, as Emma tucked him in again. It didn't take long and Henry was fast asleep again. Their worry was not gone though, for they knew it would not be his last visit to the red room.

After breakfast, the five of them met Jefferson on the corner of the street where Grace lived with her curse family. They had no idea what the situation at Grace's house was now after the curse. Jefferson was noticeably a bundle of nerves, as they began the trek to the house. It was a middle class neighborhood and they immediately noticed a lot of unrest on the block. There were several houses where people seemed to be leaving and loading things into a vehicle. The hard evidence that the curse had created many false relationships made Snow shudder. This had almost been a reality for David. She did not like thinking about him with another woman and the agony that would have caused her, even without her memories. Jefferson was one of the reasons her husband kept his real memories, so she was determined to help him get his daughter back.

He stopped once they reached the house and seemed reluctant to continue.

"Maybe this is a bad idea…" Jefferson lamented.

"No...this is your little girl. I know you're worried, but trust me, she's worth fighting for," David assured.

"He's right...I know this is overwhelming, probably better than anyone. We both lived in this town for twenty-eight years. We both have all those memories, but if we let all of that keep us from those we love any longer, then Regina just keeps winning," Snow added. That message seemed to sink in with him and David smiled at his wife. She always had a way of inspiring hope in people and he was overjoyed to see that quality return. With a bit of renewed confidence, Jefferson marched up to the house with the Charming family behind him and rang the doorbell. A man that Jefferson recognized as Fred Larson answered the door.

"What the hell do you want?" the man asked. It seemed that the curse breaking didn't help some attitudes. Some people were just as awful cursed as they were in reality.

"My name is Jefferson and I'm here for my daughter, Grace," he stated as calmly as possible.

"There's no Grace here," he refuted.

"Her name was Paige under the curse," Jefferson snapped.

"And I told you the brat isn't here," he spat back, so David quickly stepped between them.

"Mr. Larson...Paige is actually Grace and she is Jefferson's biological daughter. With the curse broken, we are lawfully reuniting biological children with their biological parents," David explained.

"And we're hoping you cooperate," Emma added.

"Look, my name isn't Fred anymore and I don't know where the brat is!" he exclaimed.

"Stop calling her a brat!" Jefferson growled, but David held him back.

"Fine...then to whom are we speaking and can you tell us where Grace is?" David asked calmly.

"My name is Edgar Balthazar and I don't know where she is. I think that woman I was married to during the curse was afraid of this. She packed her and the kid's stuff and left this morning," he replied, as he slammed the door in their faces.

"She's running...she's got my daughter and she's running!" Jefferson cried.

"Easy...we have Wilby. We just need something with Grace's scent," David said, as he banged on the door.

"What the hell do you want now?!" Edgar shouted, as he opened the door.

"Is there anything that she left behind that belonged to Grace? And remember, cooperating means we go away," David said. The man sighed and looked around. He opened the closet and pulled out a pair of mittens that had white rabbits on them.

"Here...these were hers," he said, as he tossed them out and slammed the door again.

"We'll find her. Let's go home and get Wilby," David said, as they hurried back to the loft.

Reunited at last, the seven brothers were enjoying their lives, post curse. For Doc, while not an actual doctor, was still the town's medical examiner. Sure, it was mostly curse knowledge and there hadn't been too many bodies over the years to conduct autopsies, but he liked the work and the pay, so he had decided to keep his curse given career. Bashful was much the same. Spending his days in a lab might not seem appealing to some, but he found the work as a forensic analyst fascinating and suited to his introverted nature. Sneezy was also enjoying the fruits of his labor and continuing to run the Dark Star Pharmacy, while Dopey decided to keep running the ice cream shop as well. As for Leroy, Sleepy, and Happy, they had decided to change professions. Obviously, as Walter, Sleepy had a bad work history of falling asleep during his janitorial employment and Leroy had often gone to work drunk. Neither was ever fired, due to the curse resetting events all the time, but both had decided to take Charming and Emma's offer to work various patrol and security duties for the Sheriff's department. It was much closer to their duties as the Royal Guard, which they, especially Leroy missed. And Happy had decided to join them in this, having quit his job working at the hardware store. The owner was very understanding and had already found a couple part time people to replace him.

So when Leroy had dragged them and the other four reluctant dwarves to the town line on what he deemed "Royal Guard duty" four of them were a bit miffed.

"Look Grumpy...that's great if you've found a more suitable career, because Gods knows you were a sucky janitor, but I actually like being a doctor," Doc complained.

"Watch it four eyes…" he grumbled at the comment about him being a sucky janitor.

"He's got a point, Grumpy," Sneezy agreed. Grumpy growled and turned to them.

"Look...if you want to keep your cushy little curse jobs, fine. But I was cursed to be an idiot drunk and now that all that's over, it's up to us to protect this town, just like we protected the Kingdom. And we gotta know if there is still danger at the town line!" Grumpy shouted.

"Then you step over the town line," Bashful said, without meeting his eye, while Dopey used his sign language to speak.

"Yeah...good question. Did Charming ask us to do this?" Happy asked.

"No...but he'll thank us when we can report what danger, if any, the town line still poses," Grumpy reasoned.

"Or Snow will scold you about what a terrible idea this is," Doc retorted.

"Stop your complaining and draw straws," Leroy ordered, as they all did so with Sneezy ending up with the short one.

"You know, I like it here. I don't *achoo* really care if we can leave," the allergic dwarf stammered. But he wouldn't have time to protest further, as Grumpy shoved him over the town line.

"Well Snotty?" Grumpy asked, as it seemed nothing bad had happened to him. Until suddenly a blue wave of magic rippled through him and he convulsed slightly.

"Sneezy?" Doc asked and a look of confusion passed over the dark haired dwarf's face.

"What am I doing out here with you guys?" he asked.

"Uh...we're your brothers and we came out here together," Bashful replied.

"Brothers? You guys aren't my brothers," he refuted.

"Uh oh…" Happy fretted.

"What's your name?" Grumpy asked. The other man looked at him like he had three heads.

"Wow, are you that drunk, Leroy? I'm Tom Clark. You're in my store buying liquor all the time," Tom reminded.

"Crap...his real memories are gone," Doc said.

"He's his cursed self again," Sleepy yawned.

"We better go tell Snow and Charming," Grumpy said gravely.

To say Jefferson was freaking out was an understatement. Persephone had been tempted to magically sedate him to keep him from going completely mad, but she held that urge back. She'd only do something that drastic if he gave her no other choice.

"I know it's hard, but you need to calm down. Deep breaths...come on, she's not gone," David surmised.

"How do you know?!" Jefferson cried.

"Because she does love Grace. Surely she wouldn't do anything to endanger her," Emma reasoned.

"Desperation makes people do outlandish things," Persephone warned.

"She's right and the dog hasn't led us to the diner, where most people are going to get rooms. This is the way to the town line and you all know it!" Jefferson cried.

"We don't even know if we can cross the town line yet. We need to hurry if that's really where she's going," David said, as they started to run. They could have brought a vehicle, but Wilby searched better on foot.

"Terrible news!" Grumpy cried, as they saw the dwarves running toward them.

"What's going on Leroy?" Charming asked.

"It's the town line...tell them who you are!" the angry dwarf snapped, as he grabbed Sneezy's arm.

"I told you for the hundredth time, Leroy! My name is Tom Clark and I run the Dark Star Pharmacy," he said in exasperation.

"Grumpy had the brilliant idea to test the town line by pushing one of us over it," Doc said, emphasizing sarcasm on the word brilliant.

"Sneezy *yawn* drew the short straw," Sleepy added.

"So Grumpy pushed him over and now he thinks he's his cursed self again," Bashful said, barely making eye contact.

"Grumpy!" Snow scolded.

"We're the Royal Guard, sister. Someone has to do this stuff," he responded gruffly.

"Not without checking with us first," Charming said sternly.

"Oh Gods...if she steps over the line, Grace will lose her memories again!" Jefferson said, nearly panicking. Wilby started to bark and they quickly followed him.

Grace watched the forest zoom by them, as her Mrs. Larson drove away from town. When she had told Grace this morning that they were leaving Fred, she was glad. She had avoided her curse father as much as possible during those years. Fortunately, he had avoided her as well. Amy Larson had been a good mother though, despite being married to a jobless drunk. Amy had supported them well enough, working in the Tailor shop as a seamstress. But when she said they were leaving, Grace had assumed they were going to Granny's to get a room. The ten-year-old had already asked about her papa and finding him. But Amy had gotten strangely quiet and started driving out of town.

"Mom...where are we going?" Grace asked.

"It's going to be okay, Paige. Everything is going to be fine," Amy replied.

"Mom...stop! I don't want to leave Storybrooke!" Grace cried. Amy felt her hands tingling and she looked nervously. Once the curse broke, she had been relieved when she did not revert to the cursed form that had been inflicted upon her long ago in her home city of Lydia many centuries ago. But then magic had returned and the tingling in her limbs was unmistakable. Only in a place without magic could she retain her true human form. But as her hands became bipeds, she knew she wasn't going to make it. Grace screamed, as the car swerved and crashed into a tree.

The climb up the beanstalk had been grueling, but Hook finally made it and had ventured into the giant's home. That, of course, was where it had gotten tricky. The lone remaining giant had almost immediately sniffed him out and the ground thundered beneath him, as the angry giant stormed around, trying to find him in his hiding place. Hook spied a looking glass on the other side of the room, but actually reaching it was a risky venture at best.

"Bloody hell...the things I do in pursuit of that damned crocodile," he complained, as he took a deep breath and darted out from behind the debris he was hiding behind. He hurried toward the looking glass and the giant roared angrily, as he spotted the tiny speck that had invaded his home. Humans...how he hated them. They invaded his home like it belonged to them and took what didn't belong to them. Humans had killed his family and now they were here again to take the treasures that were his legacy. He would show them no mercy.

Hook tossed the magic potion from the vial onto the looking glass, just before the giant plucked him up and began squeezing him in his fist.

Cora walked through the looking glass now that it was enchanted and waved her hand, using her magic to immobilize the giant. His grip loosened, leaving the Captain to fall unceremoniously to the ground with a thud.

"Good work Captain...the compass?" she asked.

"I've been a little busy staying alive to find it. But even if we get the compass, it does us no good without a bean or portal," he reminded. She smirked.

"Yes...it seems all the beans are gone," she said, as she used her magic to shrink the giant to a human size. He glared murderously at her, as she reached into his pocket and found what she was looking for.

"This will be our ticket, Captain," she said.

"This bean is dried up and useless," Hook shot back.

"You have a knack for the obvious. I know of a place where things that are dead can be renewed with life. It's time for you to get your ship ready," Cora said, as a pair of manacles appeared on the giant's wrists.

"We're bringing this with us?" Hook asked. She smirked.

"He can grow more beans. That may be useful," she surmised.

"I will never grow more beans for humans," he spat. She chuckled in amusement.

"It's funny that you think you have a choice in any of this," she retorted, as the three of them disappeared in a puff of magenta smoke.

As they neared the town line, Wilby barked and made a beeline for the car that was smashed into a nearby tree.

"Gods...Grace!" Jefferson cried, as he rushed toward the vehicle. He opened the door to the backseat and got her unbuckled, before lifting her out.

"Is she okay?" Snow cried, as Jefferson cradled his child.

"I...I don't know," the Hatter cried, as his grief threatened to overtake him.

"Papa…" Grace moaned, as she looked up at him with bleary eyes. They all let out of breath of relief and started to look her over.

"I think she's just dazed. I'm sure Doc would be happy to look her over if you'd rather him than Whale," Persephone said. Jefferson nodded gratefully.

"Now we just have to find out where Mrs. Larson is...or whoever she is," Emma added, as she started looking around the car.

"I missed you Papa," Grace said. He smiled.

"I missed you too, Grace," he replied, as the little girl's eyes widened.

"But I think something was wrong with Mom…" she whimpered. Jefferson frowned and looked to the Charmings.

"Holy crap…" Emma cried.

"What is it, Em?" David asked, as he trekked over to her side and saw the huge spider she was seeing on the car.

"That spider is massive," she mentioned, as she picked up a stick.

"Wait Emma...I think I know who Mrs. Larson was before the curse," Persephone said, halting her, as she approached. She poured her lavender colored magic into the spider and they watched it take the form of a human, revealing Amy Larson.

"Whoa…" Emma said in astonishment.

"Hello Arachne," Persephone greeted gently.

"How...how do you know me by that name?" she questioned suspiciously.

"I remember when Athena cursed you in her anger. I'm Persephone," she introduced herself. The woman looked at her skeptically.

"Why would you undo Athena's spell?" she questioned suspiciously. But the dark haired woman only smiled kindly.

"Athena has mellowed much over the last few centuries and I think you've been punished enough. I assume that's why you found your way to Misthaven?" Persephone questioned. The woman relaxed slightly.

"I heard of an Evil Queen that planned to curse several Kingdoms in the realm of Misthaven from the other creatures. They said it would take everyone, even the animals to a far off land with no magic. I knew that without magic, Athena's curse wouldn't affect me anymore and I'd be human again," Amy explained.

"Then magic returned and your curse returned," Snow surmised. The woman nodded and looked at the Hatter, who held her daughter.

"I know the curse ripped many people away from those they loved...but it gave me everything," she said, gazing longingly at Grace.

"I still love you Mom...but I love my Papa too…" she said uncertainly. Jefferson set her on her feet and then knelt down so he was eye level with her.

"I don't ever want to be apart for you again, Grace. But I also want you to be happy," he said, as he looked at the woman.

"I...I won't keep you from seeing her. My house has many guest rooms. Maybe you could stay in one of them...I think Grace would like that," he offered. The woman looked surprised, but touched. She looked at Grace and then nodded with a smile.

"I think that's an arraignment I can live with," she agreed. Grace beamed and hugged Amy tightly.

"I am sorry about the restraining order...I didn't know you were her father obviously. And the Mayor was very persuasive," Amy apologized. Jefferson nodded.

"I know it wasn't really your fault. It was Regina...as usual," he said, bitterly at the last part. Snow smiled at David and he hugged her close. Emma smiled too and they hugged her between them.

"Do you think Regina and I can do that?" Emma asked her parents.

"I mean...he loves us both, despite what she's done. How can I tell him he can't see her?" she asked. Snow and David exchanged a glance.

"Despite what she's done...I think she really does love Henry. If he wants to see her, we should let him. Obviously it should be supervised at first…" Snow said.

"You can't be serious…" Jefferson interjected.

"If Henry wants to see her, how can we deny him? This situation is just like that," Snow argued.

"No...it's not! This is Regina we're talking about! Do you really think she'll play fairly?!" he shouted.

"Hey...calm down," David said, as he stepped between them.

"I know what she's done...better than anyone. But I also know the woman she was before she lost Daniel and slipped into darkness. And if anyone can help her become that woman again...the good person I knew, it's Henry," Snow surmised.

"I agree with you, Mom. It's just comes with a lot of ifs and risks," Emma added.

"I know and I don't know how we let Henry see her and keep her in check at the same time, but it's something we need to think about," Snow said.

"And we will. For now, with all the anger in town, I think we should keep her where she is. And when the time comes to deal with her long term situation comes, I think I may have a few ideas," Persephone agreed, as Emma checked her watch.

"Henry will be getting out of school soon," she mentioned and with that, they began trekking back to town. There was still a lot of unrest and many things to figure out.