AN: See chapter 1 for story notes and summaries.

Ships: Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, Swanfire, Daddy Charming, Mama Snow, HadesxPersephone, Mama Persephone, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming BroT3. :)

Please consider leaving a review. Feedback is much appreciated and vital.

Also, feel free to follow me on Tumblr lilacmoon83. In an effort to grow my Snowing fanfiction blog on Tumblr.

Please consider leaving a review if you're reading. It is very much appreciated!

Special note:

Here are the main face claims that we're dealing with right now. For other minor Gods/Goddesses, see previous chapters:

Gal Gadot as Persephone

Robert Downey Jr. as Hades

Vincent Irizarry as Deimos

Ben Affleck as Prince Eli

Rami Malek as Apollo

Drew Barrymore as former Queen Serafina

Thanks for awesome the reviews. Again, please consider leaving feedback. 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. :)

Note: Keep in mind during this arc that time is very wonky. Basically Zelena went back, killed Eva, and then regressed to an infant. Emma is watching time pass more like in a movie rather than real time. It will eventually all make sense at the end of this arc. Sort of. I hope. :)

Here are individual responses:

Saberius Prime: Yep, more trouble and a coming face off with Frollo. :)

Grace5231973: Yes, the black god is the Chernabog. I'm doing a bit more with it than the show did. I know, I'm not a big fan of the apprentice either. I think he made a lot of things worse by choosing someone like Isaac and setting Snowing and Rumple up to fail. On purpose. For reasons we still don't know and he never got held accountable for it. Glad you liked the wedding. It came out pretty good. I agree, Cerberus does need a new chew toy.

Naomi Blue: Yes, Claude Frollo is from the Hunchback. Glad you enjoyed the wedding. :)

Jennifer Baratta: Yep, more trouble is coming down the pike.

Number Ten: Yeah, it was a very hot and cold chapter. A bit of bi-polar going on. I love Rami Malek so I knew I had to make him one of the Gods and Apollo would be perfect. He was definitely the perfect wedding officiate for Snowing's wedding so glad you enjoyed it too. Yeah, it definitely was nice that no one was dying. :)

TheInferno1536: I can't tell you that. The story will tell who is in charge and it's not really supposed to be clear, so it would be very complicated to answer that. I suppose you could consider this Regina less evil. It's another gray area. Nothing is really black and white.

Beth1980: Yep, I had been meaning to work that detail about Snow in. She's actually safer not being an immortal. I'm really liking protective Daddy Eli too. And stay tuned for Snow taking back the Kingdom. I know, Frollo is the worst kind of person. Yep, wedding #4 collectively for Snowing. Glad you liked it. Oh, with James, this chapter bursts that can wide open. I know, poor Eli. He's feeling like Snow won't need him, but he's happy for his little girl. Yeah, I don't feel sorry for the Apprentice. He's judgy and caused a ton of problems he could have easily prevented. Yep, I love Hades and his quips too, lol. Glad you're still enjoying. :)

Dreaming Out Loud

Chapter 103: Way Above the Chimney Tops

Snow sighed in contentment, as she lay atop his chest and he cuddled her close. It had been a night full of passion and love and neither of them had ever been happier. She mewled sensually, as he kissed her throat and she ran her fingers through his hair.

"I love you so much…" he rasped, as they bathed in the afterglow of many bouts of lovemaking that had kept them up most of the night. But neither of them minded losing sleep. He knew that soon, she'd have to go back into hiding and he would have to return home. They were fairly safe at the spring cabins and there magical protections around the meadow, but they could never be too careful. So they always made good use of their time.

"Wanna go out and spend the day at the falls?" she purred.

"That sounds wonderful," he agreed, as he kissed her.

"But first...I'm going to make you breakfast," he said, as he got up and she enjoyed the view, as he slipped his pants on and she fell back to the pillow and he went to work in the kitchen. David's mother had taught him to cook and he was very good at it. He loved cooking for her and she was only too happy to let him. She sighed, as she soon smelled the aroma of cooking eggs and homemade bread.

James marched along with the other soldiers, as they were led by a mysterious warrior that his father called Leviathan. Apparently, this man was some kind of super warrior and rumor was that you never saw him coming once he struck. They had been ordered by Arawn to travel to the east to assist the Royal Vizier in some quest. James knew they weren't being told everything and he had a gut feeling that they were being led into something that would be over their heads. This whole war was senseless and coming from him, that was saying something. He had never been one to shy away from a battle. In fact, he had often thrived on it, but fighting in this war the last few years had changed him. It left him seeing his life differently and yearning for more than just the next fight. But it didn't matter what he wanted. As long as Arawn was in control, the warring would never end. He just kept conquering Kingdom after Kingdom and soon, every single one would just be chess pieces on his board in one big Empire. It was unsettling, but he was trapped in this life and he didn't much like the fact that death quite possibly would be his only escape.

"Excuse me...Leviathan is it?" James called out. The man stopped and turned, before motioning James forward. He watched the man remove his helmet, revealing a dark skinned man, though he didn't show his face to the other soldiers.

"Is that what they are calling me?" he asked, with a bit of amusement.

"Yeah...I thought it was ridiculous too, but where exactly are we going?" James asked.

"Soldiers are to follow orders without question," the man responded.

"Not this soldier," James refuted. The man smirked.

"I respect that actually," he said, with a nod.

"We are going to a place called Bald Mountain," the man stated.

"Why?" James questioned.

"Not even I am privy to that information...but I know that whatever is there could give supreme reign to whoever controls the ancient entity that supposedly exists there," he said.

"And you're okay with that being Arawn and his deviant Royal Vizier?" James questioned.

"I've been paid to do a job," the man replied vaguely.

"Fine...but the men are tired and I think we should make camp here for tonight. There's a fresh water source nearby. I can hear the waterfall from here," James stated.

"Then we agree...we'll make camp here tonight," the man said.

"What do I call you? Because I'm not calling you Leviathan," James stated shortly. The man smirked.

"Lancelot," he stated.

"Of the round table?" James questioned.

"Not anymore," he responded.

Two Days Later

Frollo gazed up at the cone shaped mountain, as they had finally arrived at the location. The stars atop the hat, in its dormant form, had morphed into the constellations, which had led him straight to the mountain. He had no idea was awaited him inside, but he was determined to have victory for his King. He had full faith that Arawn would rule this land with a firm hand and rid it of the undesirables that plagued it. With this power, they could cleanse the land and destroy the wicked.

The Apprentice's words did echo in his mind and he wondered if he was fair in blaming his impure thoughts on anyone other than himself. But he quashed any doubts the old man had put in him. He was a man of religion and had taken the vow of celibacy. Witches like Esmeralda, a gypsy of all things, had tested him and almost broke him. He had failed to eradicate her and her kind, but he would not fail again. He thought the temptation of the gypsy had been bad, but the wiles of Snow White, daughter of the Underworld, were perhaps even more seductive. She was the second dark haired beauty to tempt him, but he had resisted and truly believed if he succeeded in burning the temptress at the stake, that it would release him from her spell.

Firstly though, they needed the power of the ancient creature that was said to be imprisoned inside this mountain. And now...that power would work for them.

He approached the mountain and saw a crevice that looked to the entrance. With a smirk, he motioned to the soldiers with him and they ventured into the narrow pathway into the mysterious mountain. And Frollo was astonished by what he found inside once they made it through the pathway.

They stood upon a ledge that overlooked a basin of churning magma that seemed half molten and half cooled. They saw water pour from some sort of man created reservoir into the magma pit, keeping it cool and steam billowed around them.

"Inconceivable," Frollo uttered, as his eyes searched the cone shaped mountain and he took the hat in his hands, willing it to open, but it would not. He shook it slightly and it glowed, which made the magma below begin to twist and churn. He smirked.

"Rise Chernabog!" he commanded and the lava began to rise into the air and take form.

"Yes…" Frollo seethed in anticipation, but what took form was not the monster he had been promised. Poofs of light blue magic gave the lava form and several black baby centaurs came flying at them, neighing in amusement, as they ducked away from the creatures. More lava bubbles formed and in blue puffs of smoke, baby cupids flew about, shooting them with hearts. And if he wasn't certain he was being mocked before, he was now, as more lava bubbles formed and formed into walking brooms that marched toward them. He snarled and looked up to find Hades and Persephone on the ledge opposite of them.

"Did you really think that I did not put magical protections in place?" Hades questioned smugly.

"Then this is your doing?!" Frollo demanded to know. Hades crossed his arms over his chest.

"Merlin may have trusted that old fool he calls an Apprentice to keep the hat safe, but I'm not known for my faith in others, save for a few," Hades retorted, as he glanced at his wife.

"I put these protections in place centuries ago, in case someone managed to get the hat. You'll never raise the Chernabog," the God of the Underworld stated. Persephone smirked, as she hooked her hand on his elbow.

"I am a little surprised by the nature of the protections though. I mean, baby centaurs, cupids, and dancing brooms?" she teased. He smirked back.

"I could have gone with the usual spikes, hellfire, and hot coals, but what is life without some whimsy? This is more fun," he replied.

"You think you're denying me?!" Frollo roared angrily.

"That's exactly what we're doing. No mortal or God should possess the power of the Chernabog," Persephone refuted. Frollo smirked.

"You will raise the Chernabog for me then," he stated.

"You really have lost it if you think we'd do that," Hades protested.

"You will...or they will die," Frollo countered. They frowned, as they saw a Knight they recognized as Lancelot of Camelot and Prince James lead in two people. The russet sacks were removed from their heads, revealing Snow and David…

Two Days Earlier

Snow moaned sensually, as he kissed her lazily and they waded idly in the water. Her legs were still hooked around him and he was still inside her, as they slowly came down from another powerful bout of lovemaking, this time in the lake by the waterfall. As always, it was amazing and they were determined to make the best of their honeymoon.

"Oh David…" she uttered breathlessly.

"I love you so much…" he said in a husky tone, as he kissed her again and she tilted her head, as his lips moved to her neck. Their lips met again and then parted, as she pressed her forehead against his.

"I guess we should probably head back and build a fire," he mentioned. She nodded. Building a fire around a campsite meant sleeping under the stars in his arms and that was always something very appealing to her. They dried off with their blankets and managed to get dressed, before venturing back to their campsite, hand in hand.

"Mmm...looks like Mother packed all our favorites," he said, as he peered into the picnic basket.

"Good...I'm starved. We worked up quite an appetite," she said, giving her husband a hungry look. He smirked.

"We did...and that was only the beginning," he promised, as he swept her close and they started swaying. She giggled.

"There's no music," she mentioned. He shrugged.

"That's okay...I think we can make our own," he responded, as he kissed her tenderly.

"Mmm...I like the music we make," she said dreamily, as they continued to sway.

"Me too...but I better get that fire going or we're going to freeze," he said, as he went about gathering some wood, while she started getting the food out. She opened it and happened to look up toward the woods and froze. She blinked in disbelief at what she saw by a tree. She gaped and glanced back at her husband and then back at the identical man by the tree. The man that looked exactly like her husband seemed just as stunned, as he was looking around her at David.

"What is this?" she uttered, as he started toward her, which made her back away. He may have looked like David, but she knew he wasn't.

"David!" she cried and then gasped, as she saw Deimos there and he had her husband in a headlock.

"Well, well...Snow White, just the fugitive that we've been looking for," he leered.

"Let him go!" she demanded, as she grabbed her dagger, as she was grabbed from behind by another man that she did not recognize, while her husband's doppelganger stood stunned, eyes still locked on the man that looked exactly like him.

"This must be a surprise to you, Prince James...I take it you were both unaware that you each had a twin," Deimos revealed. Snow fought and struggled against the man, but it did no good, as they were both shoved into a prison carriage.

"Charming…" she whispered, as she cradled him in her arms, while he tried to get his breath from practically being strangled.

"Who are you?!" Snow demanded of the dark skinned man. But he did not answer that question.

"Lord Frollo has requested that you both be delivered to him at Bald Mountain," Lancelot stated simply. Deimos disappeared, while the other two men mounted the horses that pulled the carriage and it began to move.

Two Days Later

"No…" Persephone uttered, as their daughter and son-in-law were prodded forward, hands bound. That was enough shock that they had been captured, but it was clear that James and David were now both well aware of the other's existence and the shock of that had not passed.

"You let them go...or I swear that you will suffer an afterlife that will be nothing short of horrific. And that goes for all of you!" Hades roared. But they didn't seem deterred and that didn't really surprise him. He wasn't as feared as he once was. He knew it was known that family life had softened him and while he was glad for that, it didn't help him any in situations like this.

"Your demon daughter and son-in-law will remain unharmed if you raise the Chernabog," Frollo stated.

"Don't you understand?! Raising the Chernabog will destroy us all!" Persephone shouted back.

"Not if he is controlled with this," Frollo retorted.

"You don't even understand how that hat works. Not just anyone can wear it! This will not end the way you think it will!" Hades yelled.

"Save your diatribe and raise the Chernabog...or they die!" Frollo hissed, as Deimos snapped his fingers and suddenly Snow and David were suspended in a cage above the churning magma. And the cage was slowly inching its way down.

"Damn you…" Persephone growled, as she disappeared and reappeared before Deimos, ready with a blast of magic for him. He countered with his own fireball and they dueled each other in a fiery display. Frollo chuckled.

"That's one way to burn a witch and her lover," he goaded, as Hades clenched his fist and he glared at the evil man. He glanced at his wife, who was holding her own against Deimos, even against his monstrous strength. That meant it was up to him to save Snow and David, without raising the monster in the magma pit below. Hades had plenty of magic and strength of his own on his side. But words and wit were where he excelled and so he decided to appeal to a man that had once been a hero and offer a path back from his fall from grace.

"So...this is what it's come to for you? The great Lancelot is now a mercenary that will have the blood of innocents on his hands?" Hades questioned, directing it to the former Knight.

"I've been hired to do a job," he said simply, but he was clearly uncomfortable with what was happening.

"If this man you're working for gets control of the beast that is dormant in this mountain...then you'll be responsible for the deaths of thousands. Can you really live with that? For money of all things?" Hades questioned.

"Stop stalling or I will use this to see that they fall much faster," Frollo warned, as he brandished his plasma weapon.

"It's out of my hands," Lancelot said regrettably.

"That's too bad...you would have once been admitted to Elysian. A place for only the mightiest heroes. Now...you'll be lucky if I don't sentence you to one of my rivers when your life is done," Hades replied, as he looked at his step-daughter, who clung to her husband.

"It's going to be okay, snowdrop…" he promised, as he met her eyes.

"Papa Hades...you can't release that monster. Not even for us," Snow said tearfully, which made him swallow thickly.

"She's right…" David agreed, as he looked at her.

"Even if we die today...at least I know where we're going and that we'll be together," he said, failing to notice the conflict on Lancelot's face and strangely on James' too.

"He's your brother, Prince James. I know you have questions and they die with him if you let this happen," Hades called.

"This is your final warning, you demon! Anymore attempts at deceiving my men and they will be permanent residents in your realm!" she warned.

"Do something...or she might be one of this man's victims when he uses the Chernabog's power," Hades warned one more time and met Lancelot's eyes as he did. As God of the Underworld, he was well aware of the deception that Camelot's King had them under and that included his Queen, whom was truly in love with the disgraced Knight. Lancelot shook his head and turned on the other soldiers, dispatching them easily.

"You fool...you will regret your treason," Frollo hissed, as he aimed the weapon in line with Snow and David, preparing to use it to shatter the cage and send them falling into the molten death below. But he was the one that was suddenly holding his arm in pain, as James had used his sword to separate Frollo's weapon from his body, along with part of his arm. Hades disappeared in a puff of light blue smoke and then reappeared before them.

"You both have made wise choices," he said, as he used his magic to relocate Snow and David from the cage to the spot next to him. They sighed in relief and Snow hugged her step-father tightly. David met his twin's eyes for the first time and they could only stare at each other, with questions that were obviously overwhelming them both.

Deimos noticed that the tides had turned and abruptly disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Persephone hurried back to her family, glad that Deimos had run like a coward, and promptly hugged her daughter and son-in-law tightly.

"What are we going to do with him?" Lancelot questioned. Hades smirked and picked the man up by his collar with one arm. His eyes flashed with blue fire, as he used his powers to assault Frollo's subconscious with images of what awaited him in the afterlife. Frollo cried out in horror at the images and held his head in anguish.

"You're too dangerous to stay alive...but I will give you one chance to walk out of here and rethink your life," Hades hissed, as he dropped him unceremoniously to the ground at his feet. Frollo glowered up at him, as he turned away and back to the people in front of him.

"There is much to discuss I sense, but perhaps this isn't the best place," Lancelot suggested. Persephone nodded.

"I agree," she agreed and almost didn't see the man at her husband's feet getting up. Fortunately, she saw his movement out of the corner of her eye and the dagger he had brandished from his robes, aiming it at her daughter.

"Hades!" she cried, as he turned and together, they blasted the evil man with their magic, vaulting him over the edge and sending him falling into the churning magma below. His screams of agony, as he burned, echoed through the mountain and Snow shuddered against David, as he pulled her close.

"Let's go...this is no place for anyone, let alone the two of you," Persephone said, as she prodded them out. Hades motioned to the Knight and the Prince, urging them to follow. They did so, having made their choices. And they knew there was no turning back to their former side now. Hades suspected that neither wanted to turn back though and took heart in that. Perhaps this would be the turning point in the battle against Arawn that they needed.

After they left, there was an inhuman roaring from the pit, as the magma churned and boiled. The roaring continued ominously, bubbling violently. The evil that lay dormant inside the mountain was dormant no more.

Rumple watched the scene on the small crystal ball with great interest. He never had much use for the objects, as his seer powers usually told him what he needed to know. But the Sorcerer's hat had drawn great interest. He had longed to possess the object, but with it back in Hades' possession, he knew that it was unlikely he would get the chance to have it. Frollo's demise gave him pause and he had no desire to fight against Hades or Persephone for it. Essentially, in theory, the hat had the power to free him from the restraints of the dagger, without taking away his powers. But as seen when Frollo tried to open it and failed, the hat was unpredictable and that meant there was no guarantee that it would do what he wanted.

Instead, he was going to keep his efforts focused on the curse and that meant bottling true love from Snow White and her charming shepherd. Interesting enough though, David the shepherd had now come face to face with his twin brother, Prince James. Additionally, Prince James had actually betrayed his post by disobeying Frollo and this would translate back to King Arawn as treason. That made him a fugitive right alongside his brother and sister-in-law.

It was a very interesting development, but did little to get him what he needed from the pair that would give life to the Savior. That was when he was assaulted with a new vision and it was hazy at best. It had to do with Bald Mountain though and he felt the evil stirring inside the mountain. He couldn't be sure what that meant, but that wasn't all he saw. Less surprisingly, he saw Cora and Arawn in the same room, but he expected Cora to try for a deal with him after what Regina did to Zelena. And yet, as usual, he somehow saw Snow and David at the center of all of it. And then he saw why, which led to him letting out a high pitched giggle.

"Oh dearies...no more hiding for you. It's time you take back your Kingdom and become the legends the stars speak of. I will make my potion, you'll conceive the Savior...and then I will find you, Bae," Rumple stated, as he prepared for the final phase of his plan that would end with the casting of the dark curse.

They reappeared in the meadow they called home most of the time. A frantic Eli, Sera, Ruth, and Robert rushed out of the house and to their son and daughter.

"Snow..." Eli cried, as he swept his little girl into a hug.

"Oh my goodness...where were you?!" Ruth cried, as she hugged her son fiercely.

"We've been worried sick," Sera fretted, while Robert was silent, but his face was ashen and marred with worry.

"We had a bit of trouble and it's a long story," David said, as he could see all three of his parents looking over them and at his brother in awed disbelief.

"James…" Sera uttered and David kept her from collapsing to her knees.

"No…" James refuted, as she slowly walked toward him with tears in her eyes.

"James…" she repeated, as tears streamed down her face.

"No...he said you were dead. You got sick and you died!" James shouted.

"Don't scream at her!" David snapped.

"He lied to you, son...I was taken away. I should be dead, but a Knight spared me and I went into exile. If he knew I had survived, he would have sent someone to kill me," she said.

"Why?! You were his Queen...you were my mother!" James snapped. She looked destroyed by his use of the past tense.

"Because he knew I would interfere with what he wanted for you. I did not want to raise you to in his image. He knew I would raise you with love and compassion," she replied.

"So...you just replaced me with my brother?" James questioned.

"It wasn't like that...I was alone for several years. Then I met Ruth one day and took her and David in when they had no place to go," Sera explained.

"It's true...your mother, Ruth, left me and it was my own fault. I was an alcoholic and she was right to go," Robert added.

"Sera and I fell in love," Ruth said.

"Were you ever going to tell me about him?" David questioned all three of them and they looked down shamefully.

"We didn't know how...we thought you'd never meet and it would be too painful," Ruth said.

"We shouldn't have kept it from you," Robert added.

"We were only trying to protect you, David," Sera said tearfully.

"King George already took one son from me," she said, as she looked at James.

"If he knew about you...he'd kill you on site," she added. James snorted.

"She's right about that," he agreed.

"You don't know how lucky you are," James added.

"Excuse me? Aren't you a Prince or something?" David challenged.

"I am, but you grew up with three loving parents. I grew up with a King that loves power more than anything, including me," he spat. "

And you're married to a Princess, which makes you a Prince too now," he reminded.

"You got our biological mother and our adopted mother," he continued bitterly.

"At least he tried to come for me," James said, as he looked at his father.

"Then you remember…" Robert realized and James nodded curtly.

"What's he talking about?" David asked.

"It's a long story…" Robert replied.

Perhaps the house is a better place for all of this," Persephone suggested.

"She's right...I know emotions are running very high here, but this is still a family," Eli added. James shrugged.

"Why not? It's not like I can ever go home again," the Prince said bitterly.

"Or maybe you can…" a voice said, as it was followed by a giggle. Hades sighed.

"If you're here for the hat, forget it," the God warned.

"As much as I'd like to have it, I know there's no deal we could make where I get it. But that's not why I'm here," Rumple responded.

"Then why are you here and what do you want?" Persephone questioned.

"Hmm...what indeed. Perhaps I'll join this little family meeting and offer all of you a way to not only fight Arawn...but eventually defeat him," Rumple replied.

"What's in it for you?" David questioned, making Rumple let out a shrill giggle again.

"Such a loaded question, dearie. But trust me, Arawn's demise is in the best interest of everyone and I can help you make it happen," the Dark One offered.

"Even for you, that's a tall order. But we'll hear what you have to say," Persephone agreed, as they went inside the cabin that belonged to Snow and David...