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!
Please consider leaving a review if you're reading. It is very much appreciated!
Thanks for awesome the reviews. Here are individual responses:
Barratta Jennifer: Yep, so much trouble. As for the plan working...well, hold that thought. :)
Saberius Prime: Yes, Johanna was manipulated by Cora. What her real feelings are about Snow remains to be seen. Yep, Hermes almost had her and that wouldn't have been good at all. Just a little reminder that this is a future story line. Yeah, they pretty much have each other they can trust. Sometimes I think my own trust issues come through in my writing in these instances. I don't always have a high opinion of the townspeople, but that's another story.
Booksinmydreams: Thanks! Glad you like it so much!
BixIsHere: Hey! Glad you've joined the journey! Hope you enjoy. I can tell you that Regina will be redeemed, just done a bit differently. As for Hook...well, he won't end up with Emma. But he probably won't stay a complete villain. Time will tell on that end. I'm glad you're excited for a Snowing fic. They are too scarce. Yes, Snowing's true love was too strong for the curse, but there is another reason for the dreamscape that will be revealed as you read as well. Your answers about why the major things in Emma's life didn't change will be answered in dreamscape flashbacks. Emma did tell Snowing, but was very vague. She wasn't in a good place. I won't say why she still chose to give him up, because it's part of her development with her relationship with her parents. I welcome all the comments you want to leave! Hope you enjoy.
Naomi Blue: Yes, Johanna is working with Cora here or at least she was. We don't actually know yet if she still is. There is a head canon that Johanna was a plant in Eva's court by Cora and if that's true, she still killed her. I do plan on a more fleshed out take and a twist here though. :)
Number Ten: Thanks, I do speak my mind. Some might say a little too much. Yes, Cora should be loathed and pitied. She really missed out by rejecting love her entire life. Yep, Hook not getting his revenge at this stage is going to cause problems. Yes, I made up Johanna's back story. As for Cora being as powerful as Persephone, she's probably not if you're talking pure, raw magic. But Cora was probably Rumple's greatest student. She even managed to best him, not in power, but in sheer manipulation. She doesn't have her heart in her chest and is willing to do things that might make Persephone pause. Persephone in the end will do anything for Snow and that will soon become very clear. But Cora is evil and as Henry would say, evil doesn't play by the rules.
Sara K M: Yeah, I like that he's so understanding, even though you know he just wants to celebrate her and pamper her completely. But he respects her wishes. Huh, I actually never really thought about David maybe not knowing when his birthday is. That's an interesting plot that could be explored. Yes, I think Snow understands her mother's perspective, because she wants to go all out on Emma's birthday. Yep, Johanna is the plant. It was a head canon that came up on Tumblr a while back and since hasn't left me alone. It just made so much sense to me. As for if she's conflicted or as hateful as Cora, that remains to be seen. Yeah, he's with Belle at this point, unlike in canon and I didn't want to do the kiss. But internally, Rumple knew he had to in order to really sell and even then wasn't sure if it would even then. Hmm...does he really have to leave it behind though? Remember, he did take it with him the NYC in the season 5 finale. I have another plan ;) And it ties into your question on if he will leave right away or not. Yeah, I don't think she's interested in making Rumple do her bidding. She'd rather just have the power. Persephone might throw in a temporary wrench in that plan though. Oh yes, after this chapter, Regina is going to seriously start to question her mother having even more power than she does already. :)
Izzypirelli: Yes! Snow is Mayor now! Glad you liked the breakfast scene and the perspective Persephone had on Snow's birth. I think the passage of time in the dreamscape would have been tricky, but I think when Emma got old enough, she would have told them it was her birthday. I head canon that she couldn't wait to go to sleep on her birthday, because she knew her parents were going to celebrate with her. I might have to throw in a flashback scene of that one of these days. Glad you like the twist with the addition of an original back story for Johanna. And that scene between them was meant to be ambiguous. Time will tell on what her true feelings toward Snow are. Yes, Cora learned manipulation well from Rumple. I know, that line was heart wrenching with Snow asking if anything before her life with Charming was real. Yeah, Regina is dreaming if she thinks Cora will let her get away. Yeah, the mini chase scene was creepy and just a taste of what's to come eventually. So glad you're still enjoying!
Beth1980: Glad you liked my responses! I like that someone reads them. I know a lot of writers don't do them, but I like to connect with my readers. Yes, I don't think Snow was given a fair chance to be a leader. And I really didn't want to just re-write canon with this story so that's why I decided to do something different than the portal to the enchanted forest. And I wanted a bit of down time in there too. Thanks, I always hope that the original plot points I add are added seamlessly. Yeah, I don't like the Cora and Rumple kiss either. But he knew if he refused then it would just make Cora more suspicious. I think it was vaguely explained with Hook. I can't remember off the top of my head if he was aware of the dagger's existence or when he became aware of it. Obviously, he didn't want to become the Dark One. I think that's why his pursuit was always half baked. I do know it is why he agreed to work for Cora though. She told him that when the curse broke that they could go to a place without magic where he could be killed. Of course we know that there is magic in Storybrooke and thus why Hook took off to New York. It was one of those rare opportunities to kill him if he ever had one. Remember that too, because it becomes important in a couple chapters. So glad you're enjoying the story! :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 50: A Monster Made
Snow and Charming hurried into the shop and Belle noticed the alarm on Snow's face, as did Jefferson. He had been scarce lately, as he had spent a lot of time catching up with Grace, but his daughter was having some one on one time with her mother today.
"What's happened?" she asked, as Gold came in from the backroom.
"Is that it?" David asked, noticing the blank white globe on the back counter.
"It is…she seemed to buy my act, though there is really no telling with her," Gold replied.
"I don't think she did," Snow blurted out, as Persephone and Emma hurried in.
"I got your text," the dark haired Goddess said.
"Me too," Emma added.
"I saw them in the woods...Cora and Regina," Snow said. Persephone looked instantly worried.
"Did they know you were there?" she asked. Snow shook her head.
"I...I don't think so, but it's bad," she fretted, as Charming put his hands on her shoulders.
"Tell them everything you told me," he said, hoping that his embrace could calm her. It did somewhat and she took a deep breath.
"Regina and Cora were meeting with a man in the woods, not far from Johanna's house," she began, as she glanced at her Mother. She wanted to believe that it was a coincidence that it was in such close proximity to Johanna's residence, but the look on Persephone's face told a different story.
"A man?" Belle asked.
"I've never seen him before, but he had a very identifying trait," Snow replied, as they looked at her expectantly.
"A hook for one hand," she added. Gold clenched his fist at that. So...Cora had brought the Captain with her, after all.
"Whoa, whoa, wait...a hook?" Emma asked incredulously, as they all looked at her.
"As in Captain Hook? He's real too?" she questioned.
"Says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming," Jefferson quipped. Emma rolled her eyes.
"Hook has a known affiliation with both Regina and her mother," Gold provided. Snow and Charming glanced at him.
"And apparently one hell of a grudge against you from what Snow heard," he added.
"They're looking for the dagger...and Hook is very upset about Cora not allowing him to kill you with it. Because she wants to become the Dark One," Snow informed.
"Just as we thought then," Persephone surmised.
"He kept calling you the Crocodile…" Snow added. Gold was dismissive at that.
"We crossed paths some three hundred years ago. He wronged me and I repaid the favor," he offered vaguely. Persephone rolled her eyes.
"You killed your wife for running off with him and cut his hand off for humiliating you before you were the Dark One," she corrected. He clenched his teeth.
"My past grievances are not for you to air to the world," he growled.
"And this is not the world. They need to know why they might be caught in the crossfire with the war between you and Captain Hook," she snapped back.
"Yeah, especially if he obviously knows you have friends...and someone you love," Emma added.
"She's right...Cora has likely been watching us all, as creepy as it is to think about. That's what she was doing while we enjoyed a bit of peace these last two weeks," Persephone warned.
"So what do we do? How do we combat her?" David asked. She looked at Rumple.
"You need to get your dagger and then we send it with you across the town line when you leave to find your son," Persephone stated.
"Because it would have no power out there," Belle realized.
"An act like that will likely result in an attack from Cora...you'll need to be ready. And if I'm not here, you'll have to fight her alone," Gold warned.
"I know...especially since you'll need Emma to track him down," she added. Emma looked at all of them.
"Yeah...I'm more than willing to help. But leaving you guys with Cora on the loose and now this Hook guy? I don't know…" she lamented.
"I don't suppose I can convince you two to leave with them?" Persephone asked.
"As much as we want to go with Emma...we can't leave our people with this kind of threat on the horizon," David answered. Snow nodded.
"He's right...we have to protect our people. But I do think you should take Henry with you," she added. Emma nodded.
"Yeah...taking the kid out of this mess is probably a good idea," Emma agreed.
"I still want you two to drink the potions, just in case. Belle and Gold have already taken theirs," Persephone said, as she handed the vials of pink liquid to them. Snow and David popped the corks and each drank the sour liquid.
"It's time…" Gold said, as he opened a wall safe behind a painting and took out a long box. He opened it, revealing the dagger. Using it, he pricked his finger and let the blood fall onto the blank globe. They watched the droplet of blood fall with anticipation and when it stopped, they watched a landmass form. It was easily recognizable to Emma and she looked up at them.
"New York City…" she said.
"Pack for yourself and your son, Miss Swan. I'll make the arraignments and we shall leave tonight," he said. Snow and Charming looked uncertain, but hugged their daughter between them. Charming looked over at Gold and started to open his mouth.
"No harm will come to them...you have my word," he said. David closed his mouth and nodded gratefully.
Regina put the flowers on Daniel's glass coffin that she had kept in her family mausoleum all these years.
"We almost had her, Daniel or so I thought," Regina muttered.
"I cursed her and took away everything she loved...only to find out that she still had them in her dreams. But I had Henry...and that was enough," she murmured.
"Until she took him away again...her and her wretched family. She's taken everything from me again, just like she took you," Regina said, seething that Snow White was continually allowed to get away with her evil.
"So...you've kept him preserved," a voice said. Regina's face went ashen and she turned to find her mother there. She had only risked coming here when she thought her mother was occupied enough not to realize her absence.
"Regina...love is weakness. You must let this go," Cora chided dismissively, like Daniel was a mere object.
"He is here as a reminder...of what she did to me," Regina argued.
"Yes...but he is also holding you back from truly making her pay. Her life under the curse...she may have had no one, but you were far too kind to her. You gave her an apartment and a job. You could have gifted her to that God that was obsessed with her...yet you didn't. Her torment would have been constant with him...she would have been his virtual slave and yet you didn't," Cora admonished. Regina swallowed.
Subconsciously, as much as she hated it, she had protected Snow from a fate like that. The Regina that she insisted died long ago with Daniel protected the little girl she was so fond of from that horrible fate. As Leopold's wife, she had been trapped and she admitted that it would have been satisfying to trap Snow as well. Perhaps Rumple had seen to it that Snow's life wasn't complete hell during the curse. He needed her strong and ready to fight, not broken by a man that would have constantly raped her.
"I may have cast the curse, mother. But Rumpelstiltskin has always been pulling the strings. Your former mentor's fondness for the Charmings may have had a hand in that. He didn't want a broken Snow White, after all. She's of no use to him like that," Regina surmised.
"Mmm...very true. But I do want a broken Snow White. The question is...do you want that?" Cora asked. She looked at her mother incredulously.
"Of course I do...I want her to suffer…" Regina growled, as a tear slipped down her cheek.
"Then it's time to send a monster to finish the job," Cora said deviously.
"But Persephone trapped Damon...with Prometheus' chains no less. Not even our magic can undo that," Regina replied. Cora smirked.
"I'm not talking about that monster," Cora said, as she snapped her fingers. Dr. Whale appeared and looked appropriately confused.
"What is this?" he questioned.
"I'm in need of your assistance, Dr. Frankenstein. Here is a healthy heart and there is a viable body. Make your monster," Cora ordered.
"Mother…" Regina started to protest, as all Whale's equipment appeared around them. The doctor picked up the heart and eyed it curiously.
"Whose heart is this?" he asked.
"No one important...I took it long ago. They may not even be in Storybrooke," Cora replied dismissively. The doctor looked intrigued.
"Mother...I don't think is a good idea," Regina protested.
"No darling...this is exactly what we need. Only a true monster can rid us of Persephone's bastard child. It's only poetic that her life is snuffed out by this man...she caused him to die, after all," Cora said, as she turned back to the doctor.
"If I do this...then you'll get me back to my land? So I can find my brother?" he asked. Cora nodded.
"As we discussed. A deal is a deal, doctor," she agreed. With that, Regina watched in horror, as Whale fired up his equipment. His chemicals boiled and his beakers rattled violently, as electricity charged through the tubes now connected to Daniel's body. Whale held the heart up and them slammed it into Daniel's chest.
After the conversation at Gold's shop, they parted ways for the afternoon. Emma went home to pack for her and Henry, Persephone stayed to help Gold try to determine a more precise location within New York City to give them a starting point, while David had gone to the station to cover things there. As Mayor, she returned to her new office and though she had brought a few things from her desk at school and even hung a painting of her own, it still felt foreign to her. She wasn't sure if she would ever get used to this, but she was determined to do the best for the people that elected her.
Her mother's help was proving to be invaluable though, as she had helped Snow organize everything in a way that was very easy to follow, from budgeting, to licensing, and legislation. Of course, the true test would come next week during her first Council meeting. Her leadership would be put to the test then and so she began to work on the agenda for her first Council meeting.
A couple hours passed and Snow felt accomplished, as she worked diligently on the backlog of paperwork. Several new businesses would soon be opening, thanks to her granting new permits to people that had decided to forge new career paths now that the curse was broken.
One was for a young couple for a Cajun type restaurant. She recognized their names from a movie made a couple years ago, but she never imagined that they too had counterparts that were all too real. She was happy to grant a license to them and hoped Tiana and Naveen would have success in their new endeavors.
She was just finishing her first proposal when Henry arrived at her office surprisingly.
"Hey there...what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I got off the bus here...don't worry, I texted Mom. I wanted to see the office now that it's yours," he said. Snow smiled and motioned him over.
"I'm glad you came then...I miss seeing you during the day," she said, as she hugged him.
"I miss seeing you too, but this is better! You're going to help people," he replied. She smiled.
"I'm certainly going to try and I hope the Council will see it that way next week," she said.
"Why wouldn't they?" he asked in confusion, as he cocked his head to the side.
"Well...one of my proposals is to close Damon's club and get rid of the entire building. It's still being run by his cohorts and it might be a lot for some to swallow. It's a big first step to change though," she explained.
"But why wouldn't they want to do that if it's a bad place?" he asked.
"Well sweetie...it is a bad place, but Damon also funneled a lot of money into the town treasury from his business. It's dirty money that I want nothing to do with, but the Council might be worried about how we're going to make up for those funds. Especially when they find out what I want to replace it with," Snow replied.
"And what's that?" he asked curiously.
"I want to build a community center that also has a shelter for people in need. People are changing and new opportunities are needed, like training programs for people that want to start new careers or become more educated. Then my next step will eventually be hopefully to create an actual college or university here in Storybrooke," she explained.
"Wow...really?" he asked. She smiled.
"Eventually, but that's a long ways off and really ambitious," she replied.
"But why wouldn't the Council want all those things?" Henry asked.
"Well...it's not that some don't want it, but it comes back to funding, sweetheart. A community center would be non profit and though the money from educational tuition would help, it's still going to be a far cry from the money Damon used to pay," she explained.
"But that money came from bad things," he lamented.
"I know...but for some, it's just business and some of them benefited greatly from that bad money. Getting some to see things my way won't be easy and maybe impossible for some," she said.
"But you won't give up?" he asked. She smiled and ruffled his brown hair.
"No...I'll never do that," she promised. A sudden banging made them jump in surprise and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Her first thought was that perhaps Damon had managed to free himself and a bone deep fear settled in her at that. She stood up and pushed Henry behind her, as the shadow of a figure could be seen at her door. She picked up a nearby lamp and readied it to fight.
"Grams…" Henry whimpered.
"Stay behind me, Henry," she ordered. But when the door was smashed open, confusion and a cold dread filled her, for she never expected the person standing before them now. That person was supposed to be dead and now he stood before them with a crazed look in his eyes.
"Daniel…" she uttered in disbelief. He growled unintelligibly and lunged for them. Snow cried out and grabbed Henry, as she rolled away.
"Henry run!" she called, as she pushed him toward the door. But he stopped when he saw the man hovering over Snow.
"Grams!" he called.
"Henry go!" she called, as she dodged Daniel's fists and kicked him in the shins. He growled and she scrambled after him. But he grabbed her arm and flung her back against the wall.
"NO!" Henry cried, gaining the attention of the monster and he slowly started to move toward the boy.
"Henry…" Snow cried weakly, as she tried to remain conscious. Through dazed eyes, she looked up to find Cora staring down at her with a smug grin.
"Time to finally give my daughter what she has always wanted…" the woman said, as her hand hovered above Snow's chest. But she suddenly found herself blasted away by lavender colored magic and she crashed into a chair.
"Step away from my daughter," Persephone growled. Cora got to her feet and a stream of magenta colored magic met a lavender one.
"Henry...come with me," Regina pleaded, as she stood in the doorway.
"No...you're doing this, aren't you?" he cried.
"Henry...this is for the best. I promise you'll see that someday," Regina pleaded, as Daniel growled.
"Daniel...no!" she cried, as he reached toward Henry.
"Daniel...you want to kill her! She's the one that did this to you...not Henry!" Regina tried to reason with him.
"That is not Daniel anymore, Regina!" Persephone cried, as she warred with Cora. Tears fell down Regina's cheeks.
"That may be his body, but you know his soul is gone. He passed through the Underworld long ago!" she cried.
"Because of your daughter," the Queen growled, as she stalked toward Snow's prone form.
"No...because of your own mother!" Persephone growled, glaring at Cora.
"He was in my daughter's way to the Throne...but now he will be the tool to the other obstacle in her way...your spawn," Cora growled back.
"Never...you will never hurt my Snow…" Persephone hissed, as she intensified her magic.
"Regina please…" Snow pleaded drowsily.
"Pleading for your life? I thought you were above that," Regina said smugly.
"No...Henry...get Henry…" Snow cried. The other woman turned to see her son putting his arms over his head, as Daniel towered over him with fists ready to crush him.
"Daniel...no!" she pleaded. But her hand shook and her magic refused to cooperate.
"HEY!" a voice interrupted, as David stood in the doorway now, with a gun trained on the monster.
"David...no!" Regina pleaded, as he cocked his weapon.
"He's going to kill Henry! Either you do it...or I have to!" David roared. Regina sobbed, nearly uncontrollably, but waved her hand and lifted her preservation spell. Daniel turned to dust then and Regina fell to her knees, sobbing, as he holstered his weapon and rushed to Snow, just as Emma rushed in and scooped Henry up. At that moment, Cora cried out in pain, as Persephone's magic nullified hers and burned her. She held her hands in pain and glared murderously at the Goddess.
"This isn't over," she promised, as she and a crying Regina disappeared.
"Snow...Snow!" David cried, as he lifted her up and placed her on her desk.
"She cracked her skull when she hit the wall...but fortunately, it's nothing I can't heal," Persephone said, as she poured her light magic into her daughter's wounds.
Snow's emerald eyes opened wide a few seconds later and she gasped. The tension and worry melted in David at that point and he hugged her tightly. He may have been relieved, but the overwhelming fear that he had just almost lost her again was still prevalent.
"I'm okay…" she promised, as he pulled back and cupped her face in his hands. He sighed again relief, as he pillowed her against his chest and kissed her hair. She relished his embrace and clung to him for dear life.
"That was Daniel…" she cried and he looked into her eyes seeing the haunted look and the shadows behind her eyes. He then looked at his mother-in-law.
"How is that even possible?" David asked.
"Yeah...and why was he acting like that?" Emma inquired.
"It's possible only one way...with Dr. Frankenstein's help and he's like that, because there is no soul in him. Daniel's soul passed into the Underworld and then peacefully onto Asphodel Meadows, a place where ordinary, but good souls go," Persephone explained.
"Whale had a hand in this?" David growled. She nodded.
"Cora likely threatened him though or made a deal of some sort," she replied.
"Well, that settles that. There's no way in hell I'm leaving town now," Emma decided.
"You have to," Persephone argued.
"She just sent Frankenstein's monster after my mother! And you want me to go now?" Emma cried.
"She's right honey," Snow said. Emma looked at her in disbelief.
"This just proves that we need to get the dagger as far away from a place of magic as possible," Snow replied.
"She just tried to kill you!" Emma protested.
"And I stopped her...and next time, I'll find a way to do it permanently," Persephone promised. Emma sighed.
"I hate this," she said, voicing her opinion. David put one arm around her and they hugged Snow between them.
"We'll be fine...it's almost time to meet Gold at the town line," David said. She sighed.
"What about Whale?" she asked.
"Oh trust me, after you leave, he's getting a visit from me and it's going to be unpleasant for him," David promised. She allowed herself a smile at that.
Cora and Regina reappeared in her house and the latter sniffed, as she mourned him again.
"That wretched girl...she did it again," Cora soothed, but this time Regina glared up at her mother.
"You did this, mother…" she hissed. Cora frowned.
"I was trying to help you...to finally get what you keep failing to get. Your revenge on that insipid girl," Cora snapped in return.
"By using Daniel!" she cried.
"I lost him once...and now it feels like I've lost him all over again!" she added. Cora's expression betrayed no emotion though.
"This is what I've warned you about time and again. Love is weakness and you needed to let him go," she said, as she slithered around the room. Regina looked up at her in disbelief.
"You did this on purpose...you wanted this to happen," she realized.
"It was for your own good," Cora said sharply.
"I knew the only way you would finally let him go would be if you were forced to save the one you love most now...young Henry," she stated.
"Henry could have died! You risked his life!" Regina cried.
"Oh no, I knew you or one of those idiots would save him. I was hoping at least to take one or more of them out in the process, but sadly, things did not go as planned," Cora said, observing the burns on her hands.
"Persephone defeated you," Regina said, a note of smugness in her voice. Seeing that her mother wasn't so impervious to failure was cathartic in a way.
"She caught me by surprise. Sometimes I forget the lengths she'll go to protect her child and that was foolish of me. After all, there is nothing I won't do for you, darling. We are the same that way," Cora cooed. Regina turned away though and felt the warring inside her greater than ever.
"Of course mother," she answered obediently. Regina knew there was no reasoning with her. Her mother always did what she wanted and got her way. She knew she had to ask herself some hard questions now. How long could she continue to go along with her mother, especially if she decided to take an interest in doing what was best for Henry. Because if Regina was one hundred percent honest with herself, even the thought of her mother anywhere near him terrified her to her very core.
Manhattan. That was their destination. They had managed to pinpoint the location of Gold's son to a three-mile radius in Manhattan. That was still a lot of people, but Emma could definitely work with it. She had already narrowed it down to five apartment buildings in the area that were likely cases for his residence. And that was just what she was able to do on her laptop.
"And you're sure it might be one of these five?" Snow asked curiously, as David drove them to the town line in the truck, following Gold's car.
"Well, this part of Manhattan isn't cheap and a lot of these buildings in this radius are home to higher income individuals or families. Now, there's no telling what Gold's son does for a living, but I peg him as an off the radar type of guy. So he probably makes an average income. And if that's the case, he probably lives in one of these five apartment buildings. They're more median income level," Emma explained.
"Emma...that's amazing," David said in awe. She smiled and shrugged.
"Just my experience in the bail bonds business," she replied. But her parents were always impressed by her abilities.
"I wish you guys were coming with me," she mentioned.
"Us too...but maybe next time. We are curious about this world," Snow said.
"Does that mean we can on a family trip soon?" Henry asked. Emma smiled.
"Yeah kid, I think we'll be able to manage that someday," she agreed, as they slowed and stopped just before the town line. They got out of the truck and loaded their luggage into Gold's trunk. Snow and David hugged them fiercely, as they watched them get into the backseat.
"Call us when you get there...even if it's late," Snow called. Emma nodded and smiled.
"I will," she agreed.
Belle waved to them and Gold slowly drove off, crossing the town line without consequence.
Snow and David watched the car with arms around each other until they couldn't see it any longer. Snow gave him a worried look, one he was sure matched his own, as he rubbed her arms.
"Come on...there's a certain doctor I'd like to visit right now," he said.
"David...I'm not sure it's completely his fault. Cora probably threatened him," Snow chided.
"And if that's the case, I'll only punch him once. Plus, I want to know if he knows anything else useful," he replied. She sighed.
"Okay...but only one punch. As Mayor, I can't condone you beating up our citizens, even if it is Whale," she said. He chuckled, as he opened the passenger door on the truck for her and she got in. He kissed her tenderly, sharing a heated gaze with her, as he shut the door and went around to the driver's side. With one last glance beyond the town line, he got in and turned them around to return to town.