AN: See chapter 1 for story notes and summaries.

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

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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:

Baratta Jennifer: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. And yes, Rumple and Neal are slowly repairing their relationship.

Naomi Blue: Yes, Neal and Gold are slowly repairing their relationship. And you're right, Regina has a ways to go before she truly realizes that she's still on the wrong path.

Saberius Prime: Lol, I know, it was intense! Yep, Cora is dead and Regina is unhappy. But you're right, there are still more obstacles ahead, especially with Greg and Tamara on the way. Gold and Neal are making progress and David didn't kill Neal, so those are all positive things, lol :)

Grace5231973: Me too! I wish they had done that on the show too. Yep, they know about Hook's deeds ahead of time and it will make a difference.

Paulaa90: Yes, we know Ruby is innocent and Neal is now a part of the story. As for Hermes, I'm glad you mentioned him. He appears in this chapter. Regina probably won't like it when she finds out Gold is her son's other grandfather. Yes, Persephone got a bit emotional when it came to Johanna. Your question about Hook is answered in this chapter too. Yep, the Cora arc is over, but there is still much danger facing them ahead. As for Greg and Tamara, they are working for Pan, though they don't know it, but I plan on expanding the whole Home Office storyline a bit. :)

Theinferno1536: I can't decide if you're trying to offer constructive criticism or just trying to find something critical to say about the story. The last chapter was not a filler. If you knew the true definition of a filler, then you'd know that. Luckily, I do know the definition. A filler is classified as an episode or chapter that adds nothing to the plot and can be omitted without affecting the storyline. That is absolutely not true when it comes to the last chapter. It would be a filler if they had sat around the table reminiscing about things that happened in previous chapters. But the last chapter is actually what is called a transitional chapter. It cannot be omitted without affecting the characters and story, because the last chapter had a TON of character development. Neal came to see his father in a different light for one thing, which is HUGE for his character. He also met Emma's parents and saw how they interacted with his father, even after what he did to them. And this was just a little of the character development. Persephone and Snow came to understand each other better and David gave Snow that all important reminder that he would love her, no matter what. Filler episodes are unnecessary. Transitional chapters are very necessary, but I'm glad you did like it nonetheless. Snow is the daughter of Persephone, yes and has the affinity with animals and plants like her mother. However, she does not have magic, because if you remember, Demeter fed infant Snow a potion to strip her immortality, which also stripped any magic away too in order to protect her. As for Demeter, she has appeared in the story and likely will again once Hades arrives.

Sara K M: Glad you're back! Glad that Snow's reaction was in character. Anger at first and then acceptance, once she realized that killing Cora would have weighed heavily on her. Yeah, Neal at that point didn't want anything to do with him still, but never wished him dead, so I thought it was appropriate. Yeah, the plan will be to meet in New York. She actually has a nice conversation with Snow about it in this chapter. But you're right, Tamara is about to throw a wrench into all of that. I loved the family gathering too, I thought it was much needed after the last couple intense chapters. I love throwing in other people's reactions, especially new people, to Snowing PDA. It's always fun. I actually am glad you mention that about Neal. He has a reflective scene in this chapter where he thinks about all of that. Yep, you can always count on Emma to be blunt and really made Neal think about what he was doing and how he had the right to do it, but she also had the right to do it to him. I definitely will have some Neal and Emma bonding over the lengths they are willing to go for their fathers, especially since Emma is already so close to Charming here. :)

Dreaming Out Loud

Chapter 57: Absolutes

After dinner and dessert was eaten, their family gathering truly became a celebration. A bottle of champagne arrived at their table, via Ruby, and though none of them claimed responsibility for it, David had a feeling that Gold had ordered it. After all, he had a lot to celebrate and David was hopeful that this was truly a second chance for all of them. With the drinks flowing, the mingling began and Snow was happy to observe it all while sitting next to her daughter, who wasn't going easy on the champagne.

"So Neal and Henry seem to be taking to each other well," Snow mentioned, as they glanced at them and noticed that Neal was flipping through the book with him. Neal seemed intrigued by it all, as Henry chattered a mile a minute.

"Yeah…" Emma agreed.

"How do you feel about that?" Snow asked. Emma shrugged.

"It's fine…" she replied.

"No...I mean how do you feel about Neal being back in your life?" Snow asked. Emma sighed.

"We are not discussing this," the blonde refuted.

"Emma...I know that I'm prying, but this is a man you once loved. This man is the father of your child. Having him back in your life has to bring up some old feelings," Snow said.

"It does…" Emma admitted.

"But it doesn't matter," she added.

"Of course it matters, honey. If you still have feelings for Neal…" Snow started to say.

"Whoa...back that horse back up to the gate, Mom. I never said I still having feelings for Neal. Besides...he's engaged," Emma revealed.

"That doesn't mean he doesn't still have feelings for you," Snow countered.

"Mom...he's engaged," Emma repeated.

"So was your father when we met," Snow argued.

"It's not the same! Dad was in an arranged marriage. Neal actually loves his fiance. I think what I'm most worried about is what happens when he has to tell her about all of this," Emma lamented. Snow bit her bottom lip.

"That will be a lot for a person not from our land to swallow," she agreed. Emma sighed and Snow put her hand atop her daughter's.

"Hey, it will be okay. No matter what...your Dad and I are here for you," Snow promised. Emma smiled.

"I know," she replied.

"Neal mentioned introducing his fiance to Henry," Emma said.

"And that makes you nervous," Snow deduced.

"I mean, he wants to tell her about all this. He wants to be honest with her and I get that...believe me," she lamented.

"But you're worried that she might react badly, which could have unpredictable consequences," Snow realized. She nodded.

"I don't think I have to tell you how bad it would be if she actually did see magic and got it on camera or something. If the wrong people found out that magic is real…" Emma trailed off. Snow nodded.

"I've seen enough movies to know how bad that could be. But maybe Storybrooke isn't the best place for this," she suggested.

"That's what Neal said. He suggested another trip to New York and since you and Dad could come with me this time...it might be the way to go," Emma surmised. Snow smiled and squeezed her hand.

"We'll figure this out. You also aren't considering that she might be accepting of all this," Snow offered. Emma gave her a questioning look.

"Mom...I love your optimism, but we both know I didn't inherit it from you," she replied.

"I know," Snow said.

"But I love you for thinking the best and seeing the best in people," Emma replied. Snow hummed and frowned.

"Except when it blinds me to people's true intentions and I get hurt for it," she muttered. Emma put her hand on her mother's.

"Mom...I'm sorry for what Johanna did, but I don't want it to harden you. If you think for a moment that I don't admire how you're able to still see the best in people even after everything you've been through, then you're wrong, because it is one of the things I admire about you most," Emma confessed.

"Really?" Snow asked.

"Really," Emma confirmed.

"We'd all be lost without you and your optimism, Mom," she added.

"She's right about that," David said, overhearing, as he approached the table and then leaned down to kiss her cheek. Snow bit her bottom lip, as she smiled up at him and then tugged him by the collar so she could press her lips to his.

"Mmm...I know I'd be lost without our family too," she mentioned, as she got teary for a moment.

"I was lost as Mary Margaret...lost in a repetitive loop of misery and loneliness," she added. He pulled her to her feet and into his arms.

"Never again, my darling...I'm never letting anything separate us again," he promised, as he looked over at their grandson.

"Hey kid...a little help here," he said. Henry grinned and hurried over to the jukebox. He knew the numbers of several of the romantic songs his grandparents enjoyed and selected one. Emma loved to tease them about their love of cheesy love ballads, but she also secretly loved that they enjoyed things like that together; that her father didn't need a reason to sweep her mother into his arms and dance with her. Hell, she had walked in on them dancing together with no music. That was just them though. Snow and Charming never truly needed any of that, for every moment was made special just by being together. And on this night, there was much love and laughter to go around.

Neal found himself marveling at it all. Never could he have imagined his life would lead here. He was in the same room as his father and not trying to escape. He had a son now. That son's mother was Emma...a woman he loved deeply and set free. Then there were Emma's parents and her grandmother, the actual Goddess. He may have been from the Enchanted Forest, but he had never put much stock in fairytale romances. Sure, he had fallen for Emma, but it had hardly been perfect. They were more like Bonnie and Clyde. There was love there, but ultimately, it ended badly. He had also fallen in love with Tamara, finally moving on after years of getting over Emma. But even then, what he had with Tamara seemed to pale in comparison to Snow and Charming. Emma's parents actually seemed to need each other like air. Even when Charming had been several feet away at the bar, his eyes were never far from Snow. And they were not apart for long, as he quickly closed the distance between them. He had never seen anything quite like it and he was probably pushing three-hundred if you wanted to get technical, though most of those years were when he was stunted in Neverland. His parent's marriage was terrible. Even at his young age, he had been able to tell that. His Mom hadn't done much to hide her disdain for his Papa though. He knew a lot of it had to do with his cowardice. Their family had a hard life being that he was the village coward, but even as a boy, he knew his Mother didn't seem to love his Papa. He remembered how sad it made him and how he wondered what it would be like to have parents that did love each other. For that, he envied Emma way more than he could have ever possibly imagined. He wished they could have given that to Henry, but he had messed up in listening to August and now it was too late. He was engaged to Tamara and he was sure that, even if he wasn't, Emma would never let herself be open to a romantic relationship with him again; not after how deeply he had hurt her. Sure, he had all the best intentions, but it didn't change that she spent the last eleven years thinking he had betrayed her. Surely there was no getting past that...was there?

His thoughts were interrupted when Henry returned to the table and went back to showing him the book. He smiled at his boy, hardly believing that he was real.

"Gramps loves to dance with Grams. Sometimes they do this with no music," Henry mentioned.

"They certainly have a one of a kind romance," Neal agreed.

"It was way different than their movie though," Henry mentioned. Neal chuckled.

"That's actually probably a good thing. I'd say the mouse got it way wrong, wouldn't you?" he asked. Henry nodded.

"Yeah, I guess so," the boy agreed.

"Besides, some of the greatest romances of all time began with robbery or assault, believe it or not," Neal said, as he took a drink of his soda.

"Did you and Mom's begin with that?" Henry asked curiously. Neal nearly spit his drink out, as he realized what he had said and how it applied to him and Emma. Their relationship had begun with her stealing his car. Even if he had technically stole it first. Damn...there were similarities there that he hadn't entertained and he couldn't help but wonder if Emma had.

"Uh...well, let's just say that Emma takes after your Grams and leave it at that, okay?" he asked.

"Okay," Henry chirped and he sighed in relief. He had definitely dodged a bullet with that one. He knew Henry knew they had been stealing things, but he was really hoping to not have to go into too many details about his past yet. He knew he would eventually have to, but he and Emma were going to need something harder than champagne to tell some of those tales. He saw Belle shoot him an amused look and he smiled back kindly.

Belle was a whole other dynamic to all this. The fact that his father had fallen in love was almost lost on him at first. He didn't believe that was possible just two days ago. But it had happened. He knew his father's pull toward power was still astronomically great, but with people around him that loved him like him and Belle, and others around him that considered him a friend, maybe it would be what was needed to anchor his father this time. He had never entertained the fact that his father could have a family and be the Dark One; such a concept seemed so impossible. But he was witnessing it before him and he had to admit that it was amazing.

He knew it wouldn't be without struggles and that he would probably have to tolerate slips from his father, as would Belle. And then there was Tamara. Explaining all this to her would be a daunting feat. He saw it going one of two ways: bad or really bad. Bad would be her laughing in his face or worse being livid that he was thinking she was really that stupid as to believe such things. Then there was really bad, which was mostly entertaining the worst case scenarios and all the movies he had seen where something fictional was discovered to be real. All of it was horrifying and he had no idea how to even begin to explain all this. Fortunately, he had a bit of time. Tamara was in New York and he had some time to think. He looked up, only see Emma smiling, as her parents sat back down with her and tried to ignore the stirrings inside him. He couldn't go there. He was engaged to Tamara and Emma would never trust him with her heart again.

As the evening progressed, their gathering at Granny's ended and they returned to their respective homes. But Snow invited Neal to breakfast at the loft the next morning and he gracious accepted, especially since Henry seemed very excited by that. After checking in with Leroy at the station briefly, the Charming family returned home to the loft, unaware of the sinister eyes on them...

The tears had stopped coming a while ago, as Regina left her vault and began to wander the town aimlessly. Eventually, she ended up on Main Street and wished she hadn't when she observed her son with his biological family through Granny's window. Seeing Henry so happy without her hurt her deeply. Her nostrils flared and she pursed her lips angrily. They certainly had a lot of nerve to celebrate while she was suffering. She stormed off, intending to return home when she bumped into someone.

"Oh...I'm terribly sorry, Madam Mayor," the man said, as she sidestepped him and straightened her coat.

"Save it...and I'm no longer the Mayor. This damn town and its simpletons saw to that," she spat.

"Yes...they voted for that naive Princess over a true Queen," the man replied. Her eyes narrowed and she turned back to look at him.

"I don't think I've ever seen you before. Who are you?" she questioned. He smirked.

"A messenger," he replied cryptically.

"And what message are you here to divulge?" she questioned. His smirk widened.

"A message detailing how to get your revenge on Persephone," he stated. Regina snorted derisively.

"Do I look like I was born yesterday?" she snapped.

"Persephone is a deity. Not even my magic, hell I'm not even sure the Dark One's magic, is truly a match for her," Regina refuted.

"You're correct, but then we both know there is a very fair little tool you can use to enact revenge on her," he reminded.

"Snow White...but you still haven't told me your name," Regina said. He walked around the corner and she followed him curiously. She watched him change from an ordinary looking citizen to a man in a smart suit, with a gold pin of a lyre on the lapel.

"The Romans called me Mercury, but I prefer Hermes," he stated.

"The Messenger God," she deduced, as he gave a curt nod.

"I'll forgive you for not bowing to me, for I know your grief has probably stifled your manners," he stated.

"Why are you in Storybrooke? I was under the impression that Snow's mother had to hitch a ride with a mermaid to get to this land. It's not an easy world to portal to," Regina replied.

"Oh, it's not, unless you're me. I can go anywhere; I am the messenger God, after all. I can go to the Enchanted Forest, Neverland, the Land Without Magic, the Underworld…I can go anywhere I am sent," he said, trailing off.

"The Underworld…" she uttered.

"Why would Hades send you here? Are you here to drag his wife back there?" she asked hopefully.

"Oh, believe me, I would if I could. Unfortunately, Persephone would easily obliterate me on sight if she knew I was here," he replied.

"Hades sent me here to gain him passage to this land. As you know, he can't leave the Underworld. But if certain conditions are met...it's possible," Hermes said.

"Hades wants to come here?" she asked in disbelief.

"More than anything," Hermes replied.

"I don't understand what that has to do with me," Regina stated.

"If you help me get what I need to make my Lord's trip here possible, he would see you as an ally. You won't have to lift a finger to see to the demise of those heroes and Henry will be yours," Hermes tempted. Regina's breath caught in her throat.

"You'd be truly blameless and there to scoop your little boy up. And he'll cling to you when you are all he has left," Hermes hissed in her ear.

"And what exactly do I have to do for Hades to make this happen?" Regina inquired.

"Simple…" Hermes started to say.

"Hades is forbidden to leave the Underworld, unless true love's kiss were given to him to restart his heart," the Messenger God continued.

"My guess is that's not going to happen, so there must be some other loophole," Regina countered. Hermes smirked.

"How right you are," he agreed.

"You see, if we had the blood of someone who had been both to the land of the living and the world of the dead, we could summon Charon," Hermes explained.

"Charon...he's the ferryman, correct?" Regina asked. Hermes nodded.

"You know your Mythology...or history as we might call it," he confirmed.

"If Charon was summoned to this land with that very special blood...Hades could hitch a ride, so to speak," he added.

"Except the only person that fits that criteria is Persephone. She goes between the world of the living and dead all the time. There is no one else like that," Regina refuted. He smirked deviously.

"Are you sure?" he questioned, as the former Queen thought for a moment and then her eyes widened.

"Snow...it's Snow…" she realized. He nodded.

"Persephone's precious little snowdrop drew her very first breath in the Underworld, before Demeter absconded with her to the Enchanted Forest and dropped her like a stork to King Leopold and Queen Eva," he revealed.

"You want me to get Snow's blood?" Regina asked.

"With my help, of course. I mean, why just take her blood when we can do so much more. Imagine the panic Persephone and her family will feel when she comes up missing and then maybe she wakes up in a horrifying place that will leave a mark on her for all time," he said deviously. Regina smirked at that thought.

"How fitting...and I think I know exactly where she should awaken after we take our sample," the former Queen said. This was perfect...this was exactly what she needed. She would enact her revenge on Persephone through Snow and once Hades was here, she wouldn't have to lift a finger to get Henry back...

Greg and Tamara approached the town line in the dead of night, in separate cars now. She had insisted once they hit Maine that they rent a second car for Greg. He didn't argue and went along with her plan, as usual. Tamara had killed the headlights several miles back so as not to alert to their presence and he had followed suit.

They had pumped Hook for information earlier at a rest stop and though he wasn't very helpful, he had slipped about there being a patrol guarding the town line. The pirate revealed that anyone affected by the curse would lose their memories if they crossed the town line. Tamara found that very interesting and wanted to keep the element of their surprise. She killed the engine on the car and they got out, trekking further toward it and Greg's mouth was ajar in surprise.

"It's here…" he uttered, as she put her hand on his arm.

"I've been looking for this place my entire life since it happened and now it's here again," he said, a mix of anguish and anger in his voice.

"It must have to do with the curse," Tamara surmised. He looked at her.

"Do you really believe all of that? I mean, I know we've been told it's all real and magic is the root of all evil, but a curse?" he asked skeptically.

"I know what it sounds like, but we both have seen things that can't be explained in this world. I told you about my encounter is Hong Kong with that being calling himself the Dragon," she replied. He nodded.

"I don't care about any curses or magic...I just want to find my father," he said.

"And make that woman pay for what she put you though," Tamara reminded. He smirked. Oh yes, he would never give up on revenge. No longer was he that innocent boy that would have never wanted to do anything to hurt anyone. But then he met Regina and she destroyed his life.

After she had taken his father from him and kept him from finding the town, he had found himself in the foster system. And his talk of seeing a woman holding someone's heart in her hand and using magic had garnered him many appointments with a therapist. He was so insistent with his story that they had almost institutionalized him. That's when he had escaped the system and become a runaway. Subsequently, he had met Tamara soon after and she introduced him to a world of people that not only believed his story, but told him exactly who and what was in that town he and his father had stumbled onto.

It had been a lot, even for a child to believe, but his rage was only fueled by the stories of others like him; others that had their lives destroyed by magic. Lost children and adults alike, who had taken to calling themselves the Home Office. It was a benign name that would never even suggest or hint at their real goal. And that was to expunge the world of all evil. And the root of that evil was magic. This may have technically been the Land Without Magic, but as they quickly explained to him, that name was something of a misnomer. They had discovered people and places in this land where magic had leaked through and was like an infection. But they were the cure. Tamara had killed the old mage in Hong Kong, who swindled good, honest people for all they had for his magical cures. He had been witness to other exorcisms of magic and even participated as well. But this...this was what he had been working toward. This was his demon to slay and the time for vengeance was finally at hand.

"What do we do about the patrol?" Greg asked. They were still far enough away that they had not been spotted by the two men in the van parked near the inside of the line.

"We don't...this is the part of the plan that is going to test if you're really committed to our mission," Tamara replied. His brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?" he asked. She smirked and opened a flask.

"Have a drink," she said.

"Okay…" he drawled, as he took a drink and made a face, as he did not enjoy the sting of straight vodka burning down his throat.

"What the hell does this have to do with our mission?" he asked. She smirked.

"If we wanted to, we could come up with a way to slink into town unnoticed, but I think it will serve us better if we make a big splash of sorts. Or rather...you do," she replied.

"You want them to know about me?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes...think about the incredible distraction it will create if you come crashing into their town," she stated. His eyes widened.

"Wait...crashing?" he asked. She smirked.

"So that's why you wanted me to get a separate vehicle," he replied. She nodded.

"Don't worry, as long as you don't barrel too fast into one of these trees, you'll only sustain minor injuries," she said and he looked at her wearily.

"You're awfully nonchalant about my well being. And I suppose the alcohol is to make sure it looks accidental?" he asked. She nodded.

"You know, I could end up in a jail cell for that," he replied. Her smirk widened.

"Oh no...I think Storybrooke's Sheriff will be more than willing to let you off the hook with a warning. They will want you out of Storybrooke as soon as possible," she replied. He smirked.

"And I can play the dimwitted tourist a T and decide to peruse their lovely town," he added. She nodded.

"Then I'll come in when I call Neal and tell him I'm making a surprise trip up to see him. He won't refuse to let me come to town. It would look too suspicious," she finished.

"Inflicting injury upon myself won't be a picnic, but this could work. It's devious as hell too," he said.

"My favorite kind of plan," she said darkly.

"Where will you be in the meantime?" he asked. She shrugged.

"That town we passed a few miles back had a motel. It will do for tonight," she replied.

"What about our cargo?" he asked, as she opened the trunk and they looked down at the Captain, gagged and tied.

"He won't be any trouble for me," she assured, as she cocked her gun. He closed the trunk and they got back into their cars…

"Walter...WALTER!" Leroy shouted, as he gave the sleepy dwarf a hard shove.

"Huh...what?" he muttered, as he rubbed his eyes.

"You're asleep again…" Leroy grumbled.

"I'm sorry...I'm just so…" he trailed off, as he yawned.

"Tired," he finished. Leroy snorted derisively and popped the top on his thermos. He poured some coffee into the paper cup and handed to his sleepy companion.

"Here," he griped, as he poured himself some.

"Thanks Leroy...you really can be a peach sometimes," Walter replied.

"Just drink it and stay awake, because if you fall asleep on me again, the next time I wake you up, I won't be so nice," he snapped, as his attention was suddenly grabbed by headlights coming toward them.

"Is that…" Walter asked.

"A car...coming toward town," Leroy answered.

"But I thought Emma and others were back already," Walter said.

"They are!" Leroy snapped, as they watched the car swerve.

"He's losing control!" Walter cried, as they watched the car careen off the road and slam into a tree. They jumped out of the van and hurried over to peer inside the driver's side. The horn of the car sounded in a steady stream, as this man's head was slumped against it. They had never seen him before and he was definitely an outsider. That being said he was in need of medical attention too.

"What do we do?" Walter asked.

"Call Charming…" Leroy replied. This was definitely above their pay grade. They needed their leaders to know about this situation immediately...