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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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
Special note:
Here are the main face claims I have chosen for the Gods/original characters. See previous chapters for more face claims with the Gods:
Gal Gadot as Persephone
Robert Downey Jr. as Hades
Ernie Hudson as Poseidon
Vincent Irizarry as Deimos
Maggie Smith as Hecate
Ben Affleck as Prince Eli
Thanks for awesome the reviews. Again, please consider leaving feedback. It is very much appreciated and reviews have dropped a bit lately. I love writing this story, but a lot of hard work in my free time goes into getting weekly chapters up, so reviews are really gratifying. :)
Here are individual responses:
Reconzilla117: Thanks! So glad you like the story. As for what Cronus wants...read on to find out!
Grace5231973: Glad you like the HadesxPersephone kiss. And yes, Eli is coming around, even more so in this chapter. Hades is going to turn down Zelena and you get to see how that goes in this chapter. I loved the Swanfire family interactions too. More of that in this chapter too. As for James, he really is taking that second chance to heart. George would have deserved it, but I'm glad Robert stopped him too. I promise that the Swans will eventually have a grizzly demise. :)
Naomi Blue: You are very right about the Swans making a tactical error and you'll see why in this chapter. Glad that James punching George was satisfying. Yes, Hades is rethinking things and that leads to an unexpected place. Eli makes some progress too in this chapter. Hopefully his love for Snow and Persephone will keep him on track. :)
Saberius Prime: Yep, what does Cronus want? That's the big question and I think the answer might surprise you. :)
Baratta Jennifer: Thanks! So glad you like it!
Number Ten: Glad you liked it. No, I haven't seen Descendents and not sure I will. Yes, Eli actually wants help, but Leopold probably not so much. Glad you liked seeing George getting justice and the family breakfast scene. That was my favorite too. :)
Theinferno1536: Hmm, well George is already evil so yeah he doesn't have far to go. Will he feature a lot? I'm not sure yet.
Izzypirelli: You're welcome on the Leopold situation. Yes, very much ugh with the Swans. I got to thinking about it when I wrote that scene and started to ask myself why these two people are even still married and so I decided to create a bit of back story. I'm with you on James. I wasn't really sympathetic about him until 5.19 and then I realized he was a product of his environment and truly deserved a chance. I'm not sure how much of a role George will have yet. That's still simmering on the back burner, if you will. I know that line where David said he promised her she wouldn't have to run had me swooning too. Yes, being a God with no powers suddenly would be a bit disconcerting, especially since this is kind of par for the course for her. Yep, she had a much stronger reaction to kissing Hades. As for Zelena's plan, yeah, stay tuned on that front. I throw a surprise in this chapter. I adore the small, sweet Snowing moments too. I can't get enough of them as you can probably tell, which is why I'm always sprinkling them in. Yes, aside from Damon, things were a bit calmer during the curse. They do need a date night. They might get it in a way. Yes, their love is definitely going to kick some outsider butt. And any Snowing tacos are the best! Glad you liked Snow and Eli's moment. Eli has a very cathartic scene in this chapter. Yes, Snow will be a good influence. Hmm...what does Cronus want? I think the answer might surprise you! :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 87: High Hopes
"It's from Cronus," Snow uttered, as she looked at everyone in the room. Slowly, she unfolded the scroll and began to read the tiny, delicate writing.
"What is it?" Emma asked impatiently.
"It's...an invitation," she replied. And of all the things any of them were thinking it might be, it was not that.
"An invitation to what? To tour his crusty old castle?" Hades quipped.
"Close...he's throwing a ball for the entire town. Two nights from now," Snow announced.
"Throwing a ball?" Regina asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Okaaay...why?" David wondered, as Hades chuckled.
"Shrewd," he commented. Persephone rolled her eyes and looked at him. He shrugged.
"What? If I were actually here to take over the town, that's what I would have done," he said.
"Okay...I'm officially lost," Emma said.
"I think we all are," Snow agreed.
"What I mean is that he's trying to endear himself to the townspeople. Right now, they all fear him and by opening his castle to them with a lavish ball, he will naturally assuage their fears. Improving public opinion is only good for him and a tried and true move for someone who seeks power," Hades explained.
"He's right," Persephone agreed.
"Take it from a former tyrant. It's a bold, but brilliant move, albeit a bit flashy for me," Hades said. Persephone snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Oh please…" she argued.
"What?" he asked.
"You are a full scale diva and we both know it," she replied. He snorted derisively.
"I am not…" he protested.
"If you threw a ball, there would be ice sculptures in your likeness, a table full of food named with tortured puns, no less than three banners with your name displayed in lights, and a giant three tier chocolate fountain," she quipped, causing chuckles to ripple through the room.
"That's so not…" he started to say, but she just gave him a look.
"Fine, you got me pegged, but pun food is fun and who doesn't like chocolate fountains?" he argued. They shared an amused smile, before turning back to the topic at hand.
"So...there's no way we're actually going to this thing, right?" Emma asked.
"Oh, on the contrary...it's not something we shouldn't miss," Hades replied.
"Wait...you want us to go this thing?" David asked. He nodded.
"All of us...as the town's leaders, you two especially need to be there. It would have been no different back home if another Kingdom invited you to a ball," Hades replied.
"He's right," Eli agreed begrudgingly.
"Even if you didn't agree with the policies of that Kingdom and even if the leader of that Kingdom was a tyrant…" Hades said.
"We would have gone to keep peaceful relations," Snow finished, realizing that he was right too.
"But where are we going to get proper attire for a ball? I mean, it's not like we can just have some magicked in now," David said.
"I doubt he counted on that, which means we might need to get creative," Regina chimed in.
"Gold might have some stuff. He has a lot odd stuff in his shop," David offered.
"Wait...we're really going to a ball?" Emma asked uncertainly. He smiled at her and put his arm around her.
"Hey...it will be fine. Your Mom and I'll be there with you the whole time. I know it can be intimidating," he said.
"Was your first ball intimidating?" she asked. He smiled.
"Very...but your mother taught me everything I needed to know and we'll teach you too," he promised, as he pressed a kiss to her hair.
"I still doubt my dad is going to have attire for everyone though, especially squirts," Neal reminded, as he ruffled his son's hair.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem. This scroll also says that an assortment of attire has been set up in the vacant warehouse by the cannery," Snow said.
"He must have magicked that up before Circe pulled her little stunt," Hades surmised.
"Okay...so we're going to this ball, which is all well and fine. But we still have the very big, glaring problem facing us," Regina reminded.
"They stole the magic and we need to find it before Cronus does," Persephone agreed.
"Yeah, if he finds it first, he can use the Olympian crystal to absorb it and then only he'll have it," Hades agreed.
"So...we're really going to a ball? Like you and Gramps did over there?" Henry asked with a note of excitement. Snow smiled at him.
"I guess we are," she replied.
"Until then...we need to step up our efforts to find that containment cube," Emma reminded.
"She's right...I know that there's no magic here. But...is there any other way to figure out where they might have taken it?" David wondered.
"I'll go ask my Dad...if I know him, he's already trying to figure out a way to locate it," Neal offered.
"I'll go with you," Emma agreed.
"I don't know if it'll be any help at all, but Snow and I can take Wilby with us and see what we can find in the woods. Between him and the best tracker I know, we might get lucky," David said, as he and Snow shared a smile and there was a knock at the loft door. Snow answered it and Whale pushed past her without an invitation.
"Come right in," she said sarcastically.
"Care to tell me what you're going to do about the complete ruin that my hospital is in, Madam Mayor?" Whale snapped.
"I encourage you to change your tone, Dr. Frankenstein," Persephone warned.
"I second that," David added with a glare at the doctor.
"I still have patients and my staff is scattered across the town in various houses trying to care for them with no equipment and little medicine," he complained. Snow glanced at her mother.
"And we're trying to find the stolen magic so we can fix all that. Until then...I'll have Artemis drive to Boston with Apollo. She has medical connections in the Land Without Magic and since money is really object for me, she'll be able to get what we need," Persephone offered.
"We still don't have a hospital," he reminded.
"We don't...but there is Deimos' old club. It's not ideal, but it is shut down and spacious enough. It could work as a makeshift structure for now. Feel free to utilize it. The fire department and the paramedics should be able to help relocate everyone. I've already allocated funding from the disaster fund to cover expenses and insurance money magically appeared before Circe's stunt, thanks to the inner workings of the curse. If for some reason magic isn't returned, we have that to rebuild with," Snow said. David smirked at the doctor, who looked a little surprised. He was sure Whale was expecting his wife to not know what she was doing and had been ready to pounce. Even Regina looked surprised by Snow's quick study of the job and he couldn't have been prouder of her in that moment. Not that he ever had any doubts. He just loved it when she showed others what he already knew; that she was amazing and an absolute Queen.
"Anything else, Doctor?" David challenged, as the other man sobered.
"Uh no...that should be all," he said awkwardly.
"Then get out," David replied, as the doctor quickly made his exit.
"Not that the hot air is gone out of the room, I think we all have things we can be doing," Persephone stated. They nodded.
"While you see Artemis and Apollo off to Boston, there's something I need to take care of and then...I need to talk to you," Hades told her. She looked at him, searching his expression and then nodded. He kissed her cheek and was off. He needed to see Zelena, before he told Persephone everything.
"Come on Wilby," David called, as he and Snow joined hands before heading out for a trek in the woods.
"I guess I better to the station," Emma said.
"Okay...I'll go see if my Dad has had any luck and take the kid with me," Neal replied. She nodded and stopped, as he took her hand.
"Then if things stay relatively calm around here...maybe we can have that dinner, you know the two of us?" Neal asked.
"Uh yeah...I'm sure my parents will watch the kid," Emma replied awkwardly.
"Or I can…" Regina interjected and they looked at her.
"What do you say Henry? Some pizza and video games at home...my house tonight?" she asked hopefully. He looked at her and then at his parents.
"Henry...I know that I've done some really terrible things. But I want to be better," Regina insisted.
"And not just for you this time...for me too," she added.
"You're really going to try?" he asked hopefully. She nodded.
"Even when magic comes back...you won't try to hurt Grams and Gramps? Or Mom Emma and Dad?" he questioned.
"I promise...I want those days to be behind me," she pleaded. Henry looked back at his parents, who exchanged a glance.
"It's up to you, buddy," Neal said. Emma nodded.
"Your Grams believes that your other Mom can change and I want her to be right. So if you want to...I'm good with it," she added, as a cool look passed between the two women.
"Okay...pizza sounds great," Henry agreed. Neal smiled and nodded.
"I'll drop him off later," he said. Regina nodded in agreement, before leaving. Eli left too, for he had an appointment to keep with Dr. Hopper.
"So...I'll see you tonight?" Neal asked. Emma nodded, as she watched them go.
"It's so cool that you and Mom are going on a date! Wait till I tell Grams! And Grandpa Gold!" Henry said excitedly.
"Let's not get carried away, bud. It's just dinner," Neal admonished. But Henry knew his parents were true love, he had always had that feeling. And just like his grandparents, he knew they were going to fall in love again.
"Ouch...dammit…" George complained, as Dr. Whale bandaged his nose.
"Sorry...but your nose is broken. Someone really did a number on you," the doctor commented.
"Just bandage it and be done with it," George snapped.
"Well, that should do it. You can take this to the Pharmacy for some pain killers," Whale said, as he wrote a prescription.
"Thankfully, we have a stockpile on most medicines since no one really needed much during the curse," he replied. George snatched the slip from his hand and stormed out of the club, which was bustling with all kinds of activity. Patients were being moved in by the paramedics and the hospital staff was attempting to set up patient rooms and an operating room of sorts, in case it was needed.
He couldn't believe it. James was alive...and yet he wanted nothing to do with him. That damn shepherd had brainwashed him against him and George knew that if he wasn't careful, he'd end up right back in jail if he showed his face. They had bigger fish to fry than him, but wouldn't hesitate to lock him up again if they got wind of his whereabouts. Fortunately, he was certain that Midas would harbor him and for now, he would bide his time until the opportunity for revenge presented itself. He would convince James to rejoin him and then he would make that shepherd and the Charmings pay...
Hades arrived at the farmhouse on foot. Once he began the walk, he realized how much he took magic for granted and wondered if this might end up being a learning experience for all of them, though he doubted Zelena was enjoying it, especially since she had no plan without magic. And he knew how angry she was going to be with what he had to tell her.
"Shouldn't you be figuring out how to get magic back? Because our plan depends on it," she said, as she let him.
"That's what I'm here to talk to you about," he replied. She rolled her eyes.
"Fine...it's not like I have anything better to do and I've seen everything on that demon box already. Why they keep replaying the same things is beyond me," she complained, referring to the television.
"I'm going to come clean with Persephone," he revealed. She frowned.
"What do you mean?" she asked, with trepidation.
"I'm going to tell her about the plan and how I was wrong and that it's not what I want anymore," he replied bluntly. Zelena clenched her teeth and stormed up to him.
"I knew it...you've lost your nerve, after all!" she accused.
"Zelena...you have to know that going back isn't going to make our lives better," he pleaded.
"Oh, that's easy for you to say!" she snapped.
"Let me guess...your wife has decided that she loves you and wants to be with you. Well, what about me? No one loves me or wants to be with me!" she ranted.
"Zelena please...I can help you. Regina is your sister...she's your family. You both deserve the chance to know each other. You deserve the chance that Cora stole from you both," Hades said.
"Regina took everything that was supposed to be mine! And if you think for a second I'm going to give up my revenge...then you really have lost your marbles," she spat. He rolled his eyes.
"Zelena...you don't know the whole story. There's something else I need to tell you...something that your mother did long ago," he started to say.
"Save it and get out!" she demanded.
"Zelena…" he started to say.
"GET OUT!" she shouted.
"Run back to your precious Persephone and warn her, because when magic returns, I'm coming for Snow White. I'm going to rip that child from her womb the minute it's full term and then I will finally get everything I want!" she ranted.
"Then you'll have one hell of a fight on your hands. Snow and Charming are under my protection now...and I won't let you within ten feet of that baby," he growled in return. She smirked.
"You've not only lost your nerve...you've gone soft. Papa Hades is going to protect that precious brat now," she said, as she laughed at him.
"What a joke you are now…" she added.
"Make fun of me if you will...but I'm not alone anymore and you don't have to be either. But you will be if you try to carry through with this plan," he warned, as he turned away and started toward the door. But he felt something hard hit him on the head, just before everything went black. Zelena watched him fall to the floor, having broken a lamp over his head.
"Oh, you're not going anywhere. I'm getting what I want and you're not going to stop me," she growled, as she proceeded to drag him into the cellar, where she had a nice little cage waiting.
The shop bell rang, as Neal walked into the shop with Henry trotting along beside him. Henry ran up to them and hugged Belle, who smiled and hugged him back.
"Hello Henry," she greeted.
"Guess what? Dad and Mom Emma are going on a date tonight!" he said excitedly. Gold looked up just in time to see his son roll his eyes. He and Emma both seemed to do that a lot.
"Kid...we talked about this," he chided.
"It would seem congratulations are in order," Gold mentioned. Neal sighed.
"It's just dinner," he said in exasperation.
"With a woman you once loved and the mother of your child. That's never going to be "just dinner" as you put it," Rumple answered. Neal looked to Belle pleadingly.
"Please help," he begged. She giggled.
"I would...but he's not exactly wrong," she replied, with a wince.
"I think you're afraid to let yourself get your hopes up with Emma," she surmised. He sighed.
"Can you blame me?" he asked.
"No...but I think trying to act like this is some first date is just going to make it more awkward. You two are irrevocably connected, no matter whether you become romantically involved again. Trying to ignore that connection I think would cause more harm than good," Belle advised.
"What she said," Gold echoed, without looking up from the old texts he was reading. Neal sighed.
"Okay...so how would you play it? I mean, it's not like Emma and I can do the stuff we used to do. I doubt Sneezy would like it if we came in and started pickpocketing his store," he joked.
"Then find new things to do together. You can still be mindful of your history and have new experiences together too," she reminded.
"Well...there is that new Cajun place that just opened up. It's a lively atmosphere and casual. I was thinking the Italian place I had in mind might be way too uptight for us," he said.
"See...that's perfect. Somewhere Emma can wear her red leather jacket will make her comfortable," Belle replied. He looked at her suspiciously.
"You and Snow have been talking, haven't you?" he asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied coyly.
"Uh huh…" he responded, as his father closed the book, just as Jefferson walked in.
"Do you have anything?" Gold asked.
"Maybe," Jefferson replied, as he walked up to the counter.
"Last night...I saw the Swans leave Storybrooke," he announced.
"They left?" Belle asked. He nodded.
"And their truck was pulling a trailer. If I had to guess...the containment cube was in that trailer," Jefferson replied.
"Dammit…" Gold growled.
"Circe probably ordered them to take it out of town. They'd be in New York by now," Neal said.
"Which will be like finding a needle in a haystack," Gold hissed.
"Except that I watched that truck until it disappeared and it wasn't headed toward any of the main highways that lead out of the state," Jefferson replied.
"What do you mean?" Neal asked.
"I mean the route they took would have led them up the Maine coastline and not toward the state line. They were going in the wrong direction," he replied. Neal exchanged looks with Belle and his father.
"Then...if it's not as far away as we think...we might still have a shot at finding it," Neal realized. Jefferson shrugged.
"Maybe...but you'll still need a way to track the power," the Hatter reminded.
"And I think I might have one," Rumple replied, as he took out the true love potion that Snow and David made just before magic was stolen.
"It's still glowing," Jefferson said.
"It's not normal magic...it's true love in a bottle," Rumple replied.
"Are you saying that this can lead us to the containment cube?" Neal asked.
"Only if we anchor it to a talisman or a symbol of the true love that created it," Rumple replied. Henry gasped.
"Grandma Snow's ring!" he exclaimed. Rumple smiled at him.
"Correct, my boy. If we enchant your grandmother's ring with your grandparents true love...it will lead us to the stolen magic, because that magic was made with this true love," he revealed.
"Call David," Belle said, as he took his phone out.
Wilby trotted along ahead of Snow and David, as they traipsed through the woods. They held hands and smiled at each other, as they walked.
"I miss this...you and me in the woods," he mentioned. She grinned.
"Me too, my love...I miss our walks and our long lunches in my office," she purred. He smiled.
"We're going to get all that back, my darling," he promised, as he stopped and pulled her close so he could kiss her tenderly.
"We're going to take our town back from these outsiders and then we're going to find that elusive peace," he promised.
"You are going to be Mayor and I'll be our daughter's deputy. You will lead us and I will help keep us safe," he said, as she smiled at him.
"On slow days, we'll have long lunches in your office," he said, grinning slyly at her.
"And every day, we'll go home with our baby," he said, as he put his hand on her belly.
"And our daughter and grandson. And maybe instead of the loft...it's a house," he continued.
"A house with a welcome mat and one of those porch benches on the front deck. A house where our bedroom has a door," he added with a chuckle, making her giggle as well.
"A house with a big backyard for our little ones," he said. She quirked an eyebrow.
"Little ones plural?" she teased. He grinned and kissed her again.
"Hopeful thinking on my part?" he asked with a shrug and she pecked him on the lips.
"On my part too," she agreed, as they stared passionately at each other.
"So a big backyard?" she asked. He nodded.
"Very big...definitely enough space so we can put tents out and sleep under the stars on summer weekends," he replied.
"Camping the backyard...I love that," she said.
"I remember the first time we slept under the stars together," she added, as they slowly swayed in each other's arms. He grinned.
"Me too...there wasn't a whole lot of sleeping going on though," he reminded.
"Mmm...that was the best part," she purred, as she nuzzled her nose against his.
"So...a house?" she asked.
"Yeah...I think it's time we start looking for one. I know what's facing us, but we're not going to let them stop us from living our lives. They're not going to stop us from finding a house and planning for this little one's arrival," he replied, as he lovingly caressed her beautiful face. They were completely unaware of the eyes on them from the woods around them. But Wilby barked, alerting them to something, and they heard a rustle in the trees.
"Is there someone there?" Snow called, as she watched her husband draw his sword. Wilby sniffed around, but then returned to them, as Snow knelt down and picked up a bent piece of foliage.
"I think someone was watching us," she said fearfully, as she dropped the piece of brush to the ground.
"Show yourselves! Whoever you are!" David called, but there were no answers or sounds. Wilby whimpered and since he didn't have a scent, David surmised that they were gone. He sighed and put his hands on her arms.
"It's okay...they are not going to do this to us," he said, as he pulled her into his arms, just as his phone rang. She sniffed and swiped a tear away.
"Hello?" he answered.
"You and Snow need to meet me and Belle at the town line. We think we might have a way of tracking the magic," Gold stated. His eyes widened.
"That's great...we'll be right there," he answered, as he hung up and she looked at him expectantly. But he was mindful that they might still being watched.
"I'll tell you on the way, but we need to go. Come on Wilby," David called, as he took her hand and led her back to where they had parked the truck. But the eyes on them remained and followed...
Eli looked at the door nervously, before finally walking through it.
"Good afternoon, Prince Eli," Archie greeted, as he motioned to the couch. Eli nodded.
"Dr. Hopper, is it?" he asked. The ginger haired man nodded.
"Yes...that is the identity I was given in this world," Archie responded.
"And in our world...who were you exactly?" Eli asked curiously. Archie smiled.
"My name was Jiminy...and I became an adviser of sorts to your daughter and son-in-law," he explained.
"A counsel," Eli surmised and the other man nodded.
"Very much so. Some even referred to me as a conscience. And here in Storybrooke...my role is very similar. I give counsel to people that need it," he said.
"I don't know where to start," Eli confessed. Archie smiled kindly.
"That's okay...we can talk about anything you want," he replied.
"I have become a very angry man, but I do not want to be that sort of man. I want to be a man that my daughter wants to be a part of her life," he confessed.
"And that is very noble. Just admitting that you have a problem is a very big step and I think I can help you," Archie assured.
"How?" he asked.
"First...you must confront your anger and then we'll get to the root of why you are angry," the bespectacled man replied.
"I know why I am angry...it's Hades," Eli insisted.
"Is it? Or is there much more beneath the surface that you don't want to face?" Archie questioned. Eli was thoughtful at that and sighed.
"Before I met Persephone...I was betrothed to a Princess from the southern isles. I was expected to marry for the good of my Kingdom," he confessed.
"Sounds familiar. King George demanded the same of your son-in-law and nearly beheaded him for his defiance," Archie said. Eli nodded.
"David is very brave. He risked his life for love...the love he has for my daughter," he said.
"And that makes you feel ashamed of yourself," Archie guessed. Eli looked up at him.
"I love Persephone...but my Kingdom would have never allowed a union between us. We planned to run away together to raise Snow...but I'm not sure if I could have gone through with it, even if I had lived then," he confessed.
"Then you are angry, because it makes you feel unworthy of her and by extension Snow," Archie said. Eli scoffed.
"Snow was right...you really can get inside people's heads," he said. Archie smiled.
"The gift of being a conscience," the ginger haired man replied.
"My sister Eva married Leopold. It would have left the Northern Kingdom without a ruler. Running off wouldn't have been an option, unless I wished to doom my people to hostile takeover by another Kingdom. I would have ended up breaking her heart and taking the Throne and marrying that Princess," he confessed.
"And you think Persephone has realized that?" Archie questioned. He shrugged.
"Perhaps...though I think it's Hades that has realized it. I think he actually regrets killing me," Eli said.
"Because it hurt Persephone?" Archie questioned.
"Partially...but I think he knows I would have slit my own throat had I lived, so to speak," he confessed.
"Why do you say that?" Archie asked.
"My daughter would have been seen as a bastard child in my Kingdom," he said.
"Surely you would have protected her as best you could," Archie reasoned.
"Except that my best would have seen that she was only a servant instead of a slave. You know what our land was like and how unkind it could be to people. She is the Princess of the Underworld. She would have been received much the same way those simple minded fools that threw that brick through her window perceive her. I'm not even sure Persephone realizes how much she protected Snow by making sure her true identity was concealed," he said sadly.
"But I think Hades does. I think he has seen the error of his ways and wishes he would have realized them back then," he added.
"I know what our land was like...believe me. I myself left a lot of baggage behind. But Storybrooke is truly a fresh start," Archie reminded.
"I think Persephone is in love with Hades," Eli said with forlorn.
"That is unfortunate for you, because I know you still love her. But Storybrooke can still be a new beginning. You may have to let Persephone go, but you do not have to let your daughter go," Archie replied.
"Be her father. Here...there are no expectations of you as there would have been as a King. I think you will find that being a father and ultimately a grandfather will be so incredibly satisfying," he said, with a soft smile.
"Fill your life with that love and you will never know emptiness," Archie advised. Eli looked thoughtful at that and thought about his earlier exchange with his daughter that morning. He remembered how just seeing her smile and glow with happiness had made his anger disappear. He had been so focused on his anger at Hades and sorrow at losing Persephone that he had almost missed it. Dr. Hopper was right. This was a new beginning and he wanted it, even if it meant he and Persephone weren't together. It did not mean that he couldn't be there for their child, for their union perhaps was not meant to be, but Snow certainly was.
"Thank you Dr...this has helped immensely," he said. Archie smiled.
"Good...then I will see you next week?" he asked. Eli nodded.
"Yes," he agreed, as he left. He was going to find Snow and tell her how much he loved her and how he wanted that fresh start as her father and grandfather to her children. And he was going to do whatever it took to earn that privilege.