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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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.
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!
I was asked to give a rough estimate of exactly what month/year it is, like I do with Finding You Always. So since it's estimated that the curse was broken in late February 2012 and it's been a few weeks since, it is now early April 2012
Thanks for awesome the reviews. Here are individual responses:
Sara K M: Glad you liked that little domestic scene. I like to make sure I get those in there, even with all the chaos going on. The show seriously lacked those moments after season 2. I enjoy them too. I'm also glad you liked the moment where Snow told Persephone. I was hoping the scene worked and Snow got to do something she didn't think she would ever get to do since Eva died when she was so young. And of course it was special for Snowing too, but yes, it's ominous for the audience since we know Zelena is going to be thrilled for really terrible reasons. Yep, right now, Emma thinks that she and Neal can't possibly be true love, so why bother? Fortunately, I think we'll slowly see Emma realize that just because it's not what her parents have doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing. Yep, Circe is the problem. I can't say why yet... :)
Saberius Prime: Lol, yeah kind of yay but oh no on the pregnancy front, because we know what Zelena wants. Where will things go from here? Hmm...I can't tell, lol :)
Baratta Jennifer: Thanks! Yep, Mushu is Circe's father and we'll meet her eventually. Glad you're enjoying!
Naomi Blue: Yep, Jefferson's information will add a new level to what Emma found out about Tamara. I hope Snow got through to Hook too. At the very least, she gave him something to think about.
Grace5231973: Yes, they are on to Tamara at last! I couldn't resist with the Dragon. I didn't make him Mushu in Finding You Always so here I decided to go for it and connect him to the mythology. Lol, yeah I had to throw in a comment about his counterpart too. :)
Theinferno1536: Yes, Mushu is Circe's father in this instead of Hyperion. There may be some interaction with Mulan eventually, but that will be a ways off. I haven't made my final decision on the baby name yet, but I can tell you that this baby will not be named after anyone. It will be a name all his or her own.
Number Ten: Yeah, no offense to Doc, but since he handles dead bodies now, Snowing doesn't want him in the delivery room this time. Zelena will be pleased, but she still has the obstacle of Persephone. Remember, Persephone knows what she looks like. She'll blast her if she gets near Snow, so Zelena will have to be even sneakier here. Yep, Persephone knows what needs to be done and I have another surprise in this chapter concerning that. Yep, the point of that scene was for Hook to start thinking about what Snow said. He's alone and no one likes him and he might start to realize that his actions are the reason for that. Yep, Mushu too with a twist of him being Circe's father, which means he had a past relationship with Hecate. I love to make things all twisty. :)
Beth1980: I know, Emma is not a morning person and David taking the morning patrol to make his little princess happy makes me smile too. Nope, birth control is never one hundred percent and Snowing unknowingly had Zelena making it even less effective. Glad you liked the Snowing moments and the Snow/Persephone moments. I liked those too. Yeah, the dreamscape made all the difference here. Yep, Hook needs to hush and think about Snow's wise words. August is in a huge mess and all because he was selfish again. Jefferson is flipping out and you'll see why. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 66: These Dreams
Jefferson was practically pacing a hole in the floor at the shop, as they waited on Snow and Charming.
"You need to calm down...whatever it is, I'm sure we can figure it out," Belle admonished, as she and Rumple stood behind the counter together. He sighed.
"Not if the town is imploding around us...what I saw could be bad," Jefferson insisted, as the shop bell rang, bringing Snow and Charming, hand in hand, through the door.
"Okay...we're here. What's so urgent?" David asked.
"Why weren't you answering your phone?" Jefferson questioned.
"Sorry, I had it on silent. Snow and I were talking with Emma," he said, as he looked at her and they grinned at each other.
"We got some really good news this morning," he added.
"Good news?" Belle inquired curiously, noticing how Snow seemed to be practically bursting.
"I'm pregnant," she blurted out, not being able to contain it any longer. Belle gasped and rushed out from behind the counter, as the two women hugged.
"Oh Snow...I'm so happy for you! For you both!" Belle exclaimed, as she hugged David too.
"Thanks," he said.
"I really am glad for you two, but that's all the more reason for you to listen about what I saw last night," Jefferson interjected impatiently.
"Okay...you have our full attention," David replied.
"Last night...I saw something that was...worrisome to say the least," Jefferson said.
"What was it?" Snow asked, as she clutched her husband's hand.
"It was that woman...Tamara," he said, as he looked at Gold.
"She was having a very...intense conversation with none other than Greg Mendell in an alleyway. It was nearly midnight," he replied.
"Then you think they know each other?" Belle asked. He scoffed.
"Oh yeah...they know each other. They know each other really well," he replied.
"And by that you mean?" David asked. Jefferson looked at Gold again.
"Because after their intense conversation, they started kissing," he replied.
"Oh no…" Snow said, realizing what that meant for Neal.
"So she's cheating on my son…" Rumple stated, as he clenched his teeth. He felt angered by the fact that his son was going to get hurt, but moreover, he was upset by the fact that history was repeating itself. It wasn't the same type of situation, but he had been hurt when Milah left him. And now his son would experience the same betrayal. This was, perhaps worse though, for this woman was purposely using him on the side. The only light at the end of the tunnel was that, while Neal's heart would be broken, perhaps it would leave him open to real love, like it had for Rumple.
"Yeah...I'm sorry," Jefferson offered.
"If this Tamara knows Greg Mendell, what are the chances that it's a coincidence?" Belle wondered. Snow looked at her.
"There are no coincidences," Rumple growled.
"Which means Greg Mendell probably didn't just randomly happen upon our town that night," David said.
"Wait...do you think he actually purposely crashed his car into town?" Snow asked.
"If he wanted to come here...then he knew he probably had to make it look accidental,: Jefferson surmised.
"The thing I don't get is why? Or how even? I thought no one knew about Storybrooke," David said.
"All we have are questions and what we need are answers," Rumple interjected.
"He's right...we need to find out everything we can on this Greg Mendell. I'll call Emma on the way to the hospital and she'll know how to start digging into this guy's past," David offered.
"What about Neal?" Belle asked and they all exchanged looks.
"Emma went to talk to him about something else…something that seems even more troubling now that we know Tamara is, at the very least, cheating on him," Snow replied.
"What is it?" Jefferson asked, as Snow looked at her husband.
"Earlier today, Emma bumped into her at the diner, quite literally. As she was helping her pick her things up...she saw a list that Tamara had on her," David explained.
"A list?" Belle asked.
"Of all of us...and our counterparts. The counterparts that people think are fictional in this world," Snow replied. Jefferson sighed.
"I knew it...I knew it!" the Hatter exclaimed.
"We need to keep calm about this," David warned.
"Calm?! How the hell are we going to do that? For all we know, there will be tour buses driving up and down Main street by tomorrow!" he shouted, as he started pacing.
"Who knows what the hell they've seen while they've been here...or heard!" he cried.
"He's not wrong," Rumple muttered.
"Be that as it may...I hardly think losing our heads about it is going to do us any good," David retorted, earning a hard look from the Hatter on that.
"No offense," he added.
"I get it...I just want to protect my family, the same as you," Jefferson said, as he and David shared a look.
"Then I guess we figure out where we go from here and what we do with this information," the prince said.
"And someone has to tell Neal," Belle reminded, as she looked at Rumple.
"It falls to me...I am his father. I will tell him," he agreed. He may not have liked Tamara before and definitely loathed her now. But breaking his son's heart, even if it was for the best, was a task he did not relish.
"What do we do about Greg and Tamara?" Snow asked.
"Letting them know we're onto them could back them into a corner. We don't know what they know, why they know it...or who they've told. But it's clear Tamara has been probably spying on who knows what around town. Maybe we should be doing a bit of spying ourselves," David suggested.
"That's all great and everything, but what exactly do you know about spying on someone without getting caught?" Jefferson questioned.
"Well...I've been known to be pretty good at reconnaissance when I need to be. Snow and I fought a war, if you remember. But Emma will also know about this. She's very good at this kind of thing," David said. Snow smiled at the note of pride in his voice when it came to their daughter's abilities.
"Plus...we still have you with your telescope. If you could monitor their movements around town as much as possible, that might be a huge advantage," he added. Jefferson nodded.
"If I can see them from my vantage point, then you'll know exactly where they are at all times," he promised.
"First thing is first though...we have something very important to take care of at the hospital," David said, as they shared a smile.
"At least there's some good news around here...you just better hope we can stop these two outsiders if they do have ill intentions," Jefferson commented.
"We will...we've come too far to safeguard this town and the people we love to lose now, especially to these two. We won't let them hurt the people we love...at least not more than they already have," David replied, as he shared a sympathetic look with Gold. The Dark One had mostly been stoically silent, probably contemplating the uncomfortable conversation he had ahead of him.
"You two should go...I must call my son," he said, as he retreated into the back room. Jefferson headed out too, intending to return to his home to do his part.
"Good luck at the hospital," she offered. Snow smiled.
"Thanks...I'll tell you everything once I know more," she promised, as she and David joined hands and exited the shop through the front door, with the hospital as their next destination.
Leroy stood up and stretched, having been lounging in a chair in the bullpen.
"I'm gonna go get us some grub...you stay here and guard the station," Leroy said to Happy. The dwarves had been charged with keeping an eye on things at the station, while David was with Snow this afternoon and while Emma had gone to talk to Neal.
"Why do I have to stay?" Happy asked.
"Cause we can't leave Sleepy here by himself," Leroy replied.
"I won't fall asleep...I promise," Sleepy said, as he yawned.
"Yeah right...Charming will have our heads if we leave you by yourself on guard duty," Happy quipped, as he sat back in his chair.
"While you're at the diner...I suppose you could fancy a bit of something for me as well?" Hook questioned. Leroy gave him a look of disdain.
"Yeah...if it were up to me, I'd be giving you bread crusts and water. But lucky for you, our new Mayor says even prisoners deserve a hot meal, so you can thank her since you get to eat too," Leroy replied. Hook glowered back at him and came close to the bars.
"Oh, I promise I'll relay my thanks to your fair Mayor...and perhaps her equally lovely daughter as well," he said, with a wink.
"Yeah...keep talking like that, pirate and Charming will have more than words for you," Leroy warned, though Hook didn't seemed fazed by any threats. Happy sat back in his chair, as the other two left. After they did, a man came walking into the Sheriff's station and Happy recognized him as the outsider that had crashed into town.
"Can I help you?" he asked, hoping that he was keeping the weariness out of his voice.
"Yes...I was hoping to talk to the Sheriff. I'd like to report a crime," Greg said.
"A crime?" Happy asked. He nodded, as Happy offered him a seat.
"Sheriff Swan should be back soon, but I can take some notes for her," he said.
"Thank you...it's an old crime, but was never solved. I was one of the victims," he stated.
"When did this happen?" Happy asked and the man looked him straight in the eyes.
"Twenty-eight years and six months ago," Greg said, as Happy felt the hair on his neck stand on end.
"Um...that...that certainly was a long time ago," he said. Greg nodded.
"I was just a boy then...but you know, it's curious, because it seems that I'm the only one that changed. This town...and everyone in it is exactly the same," he mentioned. Happy swallowed nervously.
"Uh...so what was this crime?" he asked.
"At the very least...unlawful imprisonment," Greg replied, as he swallowed thickly.
"Or possibly worse…" he added.
"And who was the other victim?" Happy questioned.
"My father...Kurt Flynn and he was unlawfully imprisoned by one Regina Mills. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" Greg asked, as they stared at each other.
"No...I'm afraid I don't," Happy responded.
"Really? You don't know anyone else that was imprisoned by this woman? This evil woman?" Greg growled, as Happy put the pen down and slowly reached into the desk drawer, hoping to find a blunt object, just in case.
"I...I think that Sheriff Swan and Deputy Nolan would be better able to answer those questions," Happy stammered. Greg smirked.
"Yes...I guess that would make sense. You're just a lackey for them," he replied condescendingly.
"Or is it...a dwarf?" Greg questioned. Happy clutched the scissors from the drawer, but he was easily subdued by the taser that Greg jammed into his gut. He slumped unconscious in the chair, as Greg stood up and opened the drawer, finding a pair of spare cuffs. He handed them to the pirate through the bars.
"Put these on," Greg ordered, as he held the taser out before him in a threatening manner, letting Hook see the power of its electric charge. The pirate wisely held his hands up in surrender, before cuffing himself. Greg unlocked the cell and made a show in front of the cameras of putting a bag over Hook's head. He then looked at the camera dead on, before he wrote something on the paper where Happy had been taking notes, before marching the pirate out.
Emma opened the loft door. She had called Neal and figured talking to him about what she had found out about Tamara would best be done when he dropped Henry off that afternoon, while her parents were still out.
"What...did you tranquilize him?" she asked, noticing that their napping son was slung over his shoulder.
"Ah, you know...we had a couple shots of bourbon. Kid is a real lightweight," Neal joked, as he put him down on the couch.
"Sounds like you guys had a full day," she mentioned.
"We went to the park. He's getting pretty good with those wooden swords. I guess that makes sense, considering where his family's from," Neal replied, as he noticed her pensiveness.
"What?" he asked.
"We need to talk," she replied. He sighed.
"Well, good things always come that kind of statement," he said sarcastically, as they went to the kitchen table.
"Listen...there's no easy way to tell you this, but I think Tamara might be a danger to the town," she confessed. He sighed.
"Emma…" he started to admonish.
"Don't Emma me…" she said defensively.
"Fine...what makes you think that?" Neal asked.
"I bumped into her at the diner earlier today...and she had a list," Emma replied. Neal seemed unaffected by anything she was saying though.
"A list of the prominent people in town and their counterparts," she reiterated.
"Emma…" he started to say again.
"And my parents were at the top of that list! Along with your Dad," she told him.
"Emma...I made that list for her," he confessed. She blanched.
"Why would you do that?!" she exclaimed and then lowered her voice, so as not to wake Henry.
"I helped her make it to come to grips with this place. It's not easy, you know? I mean...she's trying to deal with it for me," he explained.
"Neal...I'm sorry, but I have a huge problem with that list. What if she gives it to someone dangerous and blows this whole town right open?" Emma fretted.
"Emma...she's not going to give it to anyone. Anyway...who would she even give it to?" he questioned. Emma fell silent. She didn't know the answer to that, but that woman was definitely not what she seemed.
"I don't know...she has an attorney for a friend. Who knows who else she knows," Emma retorted. He sighed.
"I knew you'd use that against me later," he complained.
"Look Neal...I know you don't want to entertain the fact that something's up with her. And even if it isn't, I get the distinct impression that she might not get how important it is that this place stays a secret," Emma stated.
"She does!" he insisted.
"She better...because this is my family we're talking about! My son, my parents, my...never mind," she deflected.
"No...now who's hiding stuff?" he retorted. She rolled her eyes.
"I'm not hiding anything. It's just...my Mom just found out she's pregnant," Emma told him. His eyes widened.
"Wow...that's gotta be weird," he joked, but she was not amused.
"Or not...I mean, that's great. They must be overjoyed," he offered and she smiled.
"They are...I am...so if you think I was overprotective of them before? You haven't seen anything yet. This is my family we're talking about and if someone is a danger to them...I don't care who the hell they are, Neal. I'll take them out," she threatened.
"I get it...I'm part of this family now too. Your parents are really good people and I would never want anything to happen to them. But I'm telling you...Tamara isn't a threat. I will tell her to be more careful with that list," he offered. She gazed at him in silence for a moment and then relented. He was never going to believe that Tamara was not what she seemed unless he saw it for himself.
"Fine...I'll take your word for it," she fibbed. Oh, but there was no way in hell she was letting this go.
"Thank you," he offered.
"Look...I'm gonna go for now, but will I see you at the diner for dinner later?" he asked. She nodded.
"Yeah...we'll probably be there. If I know Henry, he'll be up soon and starving," she offered. He chuckled and she saw him out, before closing the door with a sigh.
"So...Tamara is bad news," a voice said and she turned to find her son, wide awake. Her mouth hung open and she looked at him suspiciously.
"How long have you been awake?" she asked.
"Since Dad dropped me on the couch, but I know adults don't really talk about everything when I'm around," he replied.
"So you pretended to be asleep...sneaky," she commented.
"So Tamara…" he prompted.
"Kid…" she warned.
"Operation Cobra is back on, right? We're investigating Tamara, right?" he asked, as he grabbed a package of pop-tarts out of the pantry.
"Oh...and is Grams really pregnant?" he asked. She sighed.
"Yes...your Grams is really pregnant," she answered, with a smile.
"Awesome...so Tamara?" he asked. She rolled her eyes.
"Get your coat," she replied.
Snow sat on the exam table anxiously, as they waited for the blood test to come back. Whale had been his usual self when they had arrived. The prospect of having to put her legs in stirrups for Whale and him between her legs was seriously making her uncomfortable. The fact that he was the best Storybrooke had to offer for a doctor was disappointing to say the least. She was really unnerved by the fact that Dr. Frankenstein would be delivering her second child and she knew her husband was even less thrilled. He returned with her file and smiled pleasantly, which still looked smarmy to them.
"Congratulations...you are indeed pregnant. Six weeks along, to be exact," he reported. They both let out a relieved breath and smiled excitedly at each other.
"So...what's next? Is it too early for an ultrasound?" Snow asked.
"No...though we won't be able to see much at this point. But if you want to, we can certainly do one, along with a routine exam so I can determine the right regimen of prenatal vitamins," he said. David took her hand and they nodded eagerly.
"Okay...you just need to undress and put this gown on. Then we can get started," Whale said. They stared at him, as he went about scribbling on her chart and then looked back up at them.
"What?" he asked.
"Can you please step out?" she asked. He shrugged.
"I'm a doctor...I've seen many naked women," he leered, though it sounded like a boast.
"Out…" David demanded. The doctor rolled his eyes and she groaned, as she took her blouse off.
"Just when I think he might actually try to be professional and not creepy," she complained.
"I know...the fact that he's going to be...I can't even say it," he lamented.
"Believe me...I hate it as much as you, if not more," she agreed, as he helped her put the gown on and then sit up on the table. He surprised her then by kissing her tenderly. She swooned and bit her bottom lip, as their lips parted and pressed her forehead against his.
"I am so happy…" he told her.
"Me too…" she gushed, as he put his hand on her still flat stomach that she knew would soon swell with their child. And she knew he would be just like he was with Emma. His hand had never been far from resting on their baby when they were together. He had often told stories about how they met and their adventures to their unborn child and even sang to her. She knew this time would be no different and she relished it. He pecked her lips again, just as Whale returned.
"Whoa there...I think you've already made delivery there, Deputy. No need to do so again in my exam room," Whale joked, earning him a glare from the Prince.
"All right...I think you know the procedure," he said, gesturing to the stirrups. Snow didn't like how excited he seemed by getting between her legs and that was the moment that her mother chose to burst in, thankfully.
"Sorry I'm late, sweetheart," she said.
"That's okay...I didn't know you were coming though," Snow replied.
"Oh, I wouldn't miss any of this for anything. I was just waiting on our guest," Persephone said, as she gestured to the woman beside her. She was dressed in a smart pantsuit and white lab coat. She was beautiful, with auburn hair, styled in beachy waves and mesmerizing brown eyes. She was petite, but obviously very fit, giving the impression that she might be athletic.
"And this is?" Whale asked, none too pleased about being interrupted. Persephone looked at him smugly.
"This is my daughter's new doctor. Your services will no longer be required, Dr. Frankenstein," she responded.
"I prefer Whale these days and you expect me to believe this woman is a doctor? In this town?" he questioned.
"Oh no, she's not from this town at all," Persephone replied.
"Mother...you got me a doctor from outside Storybrooke?" Snow asked wearily.
"Oh no sweetie, not from the Land Without Magic," Persephone replied, as the two women smiled at each other.
"Snow and David...I would like you to meet my half sister Artemis," she announced.
"Artemis? Goddess of the hunt?" David questioned. She smiled.
"And animals and childbirth, as well as protector of young women," she added.
"And your Aunt," Persephone added.
"So you're a Goddess...that hardly makes you a doctor," Whale refuted.
"Actually, it does. I convinced Zeus several years ago that Olympians needed to evolve with the times. People may no longer view us as anything more than myths, but that doesn't mean we do not have anything to offer to humanity," she protested.
"He allowed me to cross into the Land Without Magic and live among the mortals long enough to get my medical degree. Top of my class...Harvard Med," she boasted. David smirked.
"In other words, Whale, you're never getting between my daughter's legs," Persephone smirked.
"Yeah...your services will definitely no longer be needed," he told the doctor, who looked as miffed and irritated as they had ever seen, before storming out. Snow smiled.
"Thank you Mother," she said, as Persephone hugged her.
"Anything for you, Snowdrop and I was completely serious when I said there is no way I'm letting Dr. Frankenstein touch my baby. Doctor or not, I am not a fan of his early work," she replied.
"We're no fans of Whale, but I can't help but notice that your disdain of him seems a bit concentrated," Snow inquired. She sighed.
"Let's just say that, as the Queen of the Underworld and subsequently the Goddess of Spring and new life, his unnatural work is highly offensive to me," she responded.
"So...now that you're a bit more comfortable, how about that ultrasound?" Artemis asked. Snow nodded eagerly, as the woman completed her exam with no awkwardness and then moved on to the ultrasound.
As Artemis rubbed the solution on Snow's barely rounded abdomen, an image appeared on screen.
"There isn't much to see yet, but there he or she is," she pointed out to them on the screen. And even though their baby was the size of pea currently, it did nothing to lessen their awe. David clutched her hand and grinned at her, as tears started to fall down her cheeks. He kissed her hair, as he fought back his own tears.
"Congratulations...everything up to this point seems completely normal. I'll have you begin a regimen of vitamins and then I'll see you both in a few weeks for another appointment," Artemis said.
"Thank you," David replied tearfully. She smiled.
"You're both very welcome," she said. Persephone smiled at them both.
"I'm going to take Artemis over to the Inn to get a room and then we'll see you at the diner for dinner," she said, as the two women left. Snow pulled her husband down and kissed him passionately. He kissed her back with equal fervor. Neither of them could hardly believe it. Their happiness was bursting out of them and they couldn't wait until the day they would welcome their second child…
Hook didn't know where he was being led, but he knew it was up a set of stairs. He felt the other man force him to sit in a chair, before the bag was finally pulled off his head.
"If you think I'm afraid of the dark, you're a couple of fools. I've spent enough time below deck to not be afraid of the dark. So if this is your idea of torture, then you'll have to try a little harder," Hook goaded.
"Torture you? No, we just want to offer you a job," Greg responded. Hook snickered.
"Oh? And then you're gonna let me go?" he laughed.
"Captain Killian Jones has one job, mates. And that's skinning my crocodile. I nearly completed that quest, but alas, once again, the Dark One eludes death," he groused.
"We agree. It's really too bad that your stabbing of the Dark One didn't take," Tamara said.
"Did you get that name from your little list that Neal helped you make?" Hook questioned and she frowned.
"Oh yes...I know about your list. Emma Swan is onto you, love. She's very agitated that her precious parents are on your little cheat sheet. But something tells me that you knew about the Dark One before that little list," he said.
"You're smarter than you look, Captain. But the fact remains...your thirst for revenge remains unquenched and we are the only ones that can offer you a chance at it again. A chance to make it stick this time," Tamara tempted. He scoffed.
"You and the receding hairline here?" he retorted, referring to Greg.
"We know how to kill magical creatures," she claimed. He smirked.
"Oh really? That is quite a bold claim, indeed. What the price?" he inquired.
"I need you to help me find someone. My father. He was taken in this town a long time ago," Greg replied.
"So I heard you telling the cheerful dwarf, which still puzzles me. You revealed your hand to the Sheriff. You didn't even try to hide what you did and now she'll be onto you," he warned. He smirked.
"Oh, I'm counting on it," Greg responded, making Hook gaze at him with scrutiny.
"So...that story was true. Regina took your father," he stated.
"Yes...and you know her. We get what we want and you get what you want. Do we have a deal?" Greg questioned. Hook looked at them both, contemplating his next move...