*MINOR EDIT 10/27/15: small spelling error driving me nuts, feel free to ignore. Thanks!*

AN: This is what happens when my computer doesn't work. I start handwriting stories and before I know it, I've got two and half chapters done. I guess it's easier to start a new story than trying to track down mmultiple sets of notes for my other stories while I'm sharing a virused desktop with three other people (curse you sims 3!). Luckily, I finally sucked it up and printed off the bits of chapters and notes I need for my other crossovers. Hopefully I'll get some of those chapters done and up soon. I really need to call and get my computer looked at. :(

AN2: Story is rated for language, just to be on the safe side.

Chapter 2: Never Too Old to Believe

Dawn was lying in her hospital bed reading a book Emma had brought her on the history of the evolution of the Spanish language when she heard the town clock chime. She grinned widely and laughed. "Good luck, squirt," she whispered. "You're gonna need it."

XXXX

Emma was in a foul mood when she came to pick Dawn up from the hospital. "What's got a bee in your bonnet, sis?" asked Dawn as Emma helped maneuver her into a wheelchair. "You know this is ridiculous," she added. "I'm perfectly capable of walking. It's not like I broke my leg or anything."

"Hospital policy, Dawn," said Emma, pushing her down the hall and out of the building with just a hint of a smug grin on her face.

"So, what's got you all riled up?" Dawn asked again once they were settled in Emma's car.

Emma's hands clenched on the steering wheel. "Regina," she snapped. "The mayor," she added at Dawn's quizzical look.

"Henry's mom?"

"Yeah, her. She tried to get me to leave town this morning by threatening me."

"Which means we're staying," said Dawn with a grin.

Emma smiled tightly. "You know me so well."

"So what's the deal with her anyway?"

"Regina Mills is an uptight control freak," said Emma. "She's got the kid in therapy, trying to convince him he's crazy for a having a brilliant, overactive imagination."

"You don't believe him," said Dawn.

"Dawn," she said with a sigh, "don't tell me you still believe that Mom's stories are true."

"Fine," snapped Dawn, crossing her arms over her chest and sinking down into the passenger seat. "I won't."

Emma sighed again. "Dawn—"

"Don't you Dawn me, Emma," snapped the lanky brunette. "Just because you've never seen something doesn't mean it's not real."

"Dawnie," sighed Emma (she was doing way too much of that lately), "fairytales aren't real. Magic and dragons and heroic princes rescuing damsels in distress are not real."

"Well," snapped Dawn, "we'll just have to agree to disagree."

"Dawn, aren't you a little old for this?"

"You're never too old to believe in fairytales, Emma."

XXXX

"Mama, why can't I stay with you?" The little redheaded girl clung to her mother's skirts, tears staining her rosy cheeks.

Queen Leah knelt down and tucked a loose curl behind the little girl's ear. "My darling girl," she said, tears choking her speech, "it's not safe here anymore. Mama and Rory are leaving too."

"But Mama, why can't I go with you an' Rory 'stead of Miss Merryweather?"

Queen Leah sighed and pressed her forehead against her daughter's, her own blood red ringlets forming a curtain to shield their faces. "My darling Giselle," she said, "there is an evil witch after your sister and myself. I cannot put you at risk too, my darling girl."

"I can be brave, Mama," said Giselle, her voice small.

"I know, princess," said Queen Leah, stroking Giselle's curls, "but I need you to be a different kind of brave now. No fighting witches and dragons; I need you to be brave enough to let us go."

"What about Papa and Thommy?"

"Papa and Thommy are going to remain in our kingdom," said Queen Leah. "Maleficent has no desire to harm either of them."

"You said she doesn't want me neither," protested Giselle. "Why can't I stay with Papa and Thommy?"

"My darling princess," said Queen Leah, wiping the tears from Giselle's face with her thumb, "there is another witch who would do you harm. I cannot let that happen."

"But Mama, I'm brave." Silent tears continued to fall from the little girl's crystal blue eyes.

"I know, my darling girl. I know." Queen Leah hugged her tight. "I am only doing this to protect you. I love you too much to lose you, Giselle. You will be safe in Andalasia. King Luka has given his word that no one will harm you within his borders."

"Mama—"

"Never forget I love you, Giselle. I will always love you. Someday we will see each other again. You will grow in kindness and in beauty and someday you will meet your one true love and you two will share a very special kiss. When that day comes, the witch will no longer be a danger to you and that is the day when we will see each other again, my darling girl; the day that you find your happily ever after."

XXXX

"Those records were sealed," groaned Emma, glaring daggers at the newspaper sitting in front of her. "How the hell did she get them?"

Dawn shrugged, adding salsa and bananas to her burger and ignoring the odd looks other (nosy) customers were shooting her way. "I'm sure Madam Mayor has her witchy ways," she said, frowning thoughtfully at her food before snagging the scantily clad waitress (whose nametag said Ruby) and asking for a bottle of tabasco sauce. "I don't know how you managed to get them sealed in the first place," she added.

"Dad," said Emma simply.

"Really?" said Dawn, mixing together ketchup, mayonnaise, and chocolate milkshake to dip her fries in. "Even after he threatened to ground you for the rest of your life?"

Emma's lips quirked into a small smile. "Yeah, what can I say? Dad's a sucker when it comes to his kids."

"Totally," agreed Dawn, accepting the tabasco from Ruby with a smile.

"I just didn't want Henry to find out this way," said Emma.

"Find out what?" asked Graham, coming over to stand at the end of their booth.

"Hey Sheriff Cutie," said Dawn, grinning up at him. "We were just talking about Emma's juvenile misdeeds."

Graham grinned. "Yeah, that's the big story around town today."

"I just didn't want the kid to find out this way," repeated Emma.

"What's done is done," said Dawn with a casual shrug.

"Hot cocoa with cinnamon for Blondie," said Ruby, setting a hot mug down in front of Emma.

"Sheriff, thanks, but—"

"Oh, I didn't send it," said Graham, smirking.

"I did," said Henry, popping out from behind the sheriff. He was wearing his school uniform and clutching the straps of his backpack loosely.

"How did you know I like cinnamon in my cocoa?" asked Emma. "Not many people do; not even Miss Lacks-Taste-Buds over here."

"What?" protested Dawn, biting into her burger, which she had added tabasco and her weird fry dip to. "My taste buds are just fine, thank you very much."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Dawnie," she said.

Henry smiled at their antics. "I guessed," he said. "I like cocoa with cinnamon too."

Emma grinned back at him, but it quickly transformed into a small frown. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be in school?" she asked.

"I've got time," said Henry, sliding into the booth beside Emma.

"I'll take that as my cue to go," said Graham. "See you around, Miss Swan, Dawn."

Dawn smiled goofily around her mouthful of food at his retreating back. "Smooth, Dawn," said Emma dryly. "So what's up kid?"

"I was thinking that we need a code name for breaking the curse and figuring out who's who. I was thinking Operation Cobra."

"That's brilliant, squirt!" said Dawn excitedly.

"Really?" said Emma, raising her eyebrow at her little sister. "That has nothing to do with fairytales."

"Exactly," said Henry. "That's why it's perfect; Dawn gets it."

"Henry," asked Emma, "why exactly are you so sure this town is under an evil curse?"

"No one remembers who they are," said Henry. "No one can remember how they came to be here. If you ask anyone for details about their past, they'll all tell you it's just a haze." He pulled his storybook out onto the table and Emma began to flip through it. "The only way to break the curse is for you to break it, Emma. You're the Savior."

"I'm not a savior of anything, kid," she protested. "Hey, why are there pages torn out at the end?"

"Just in case the Evil Queen gets ahold of the book, she won't find out that you're the Savior."

"Wait, Emma's in the book?" said Dawn. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Sorry," said Henry. "I guess I forgot you didn't know."

"What's she doing in the book anyway?"

"Well, she's the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, the product of true love, and the Savior. Her parents sent her through a magical wardrobe to this world when she was a baby to give her her best chance."

Emma sighed. "Henry—"

"No, it makes sense," said Dawn excitedly. "Mom and Dad said that they found you and Nick in Maine when they adopted you. It was probably somewhere close by here, right? Don't answer that, Henry, I'll find out myself. Ooo, Operation Cobra is gonna be so much fun! You gonna finish your cocoa there, Ems?"

"Dawn Giselle Philip, keep your nasty tabasco away from my cocoa!"

XXXX

Seven years after her mother left her in a small cottage in the Andalsian corner of the Enchanted Forest, the fairy Merryweather disappeared, leaving the thirteen-year-old Giselle to fend for herself. "Oh Pip," she cried to the small chipmunk pup she had rescued from a hawk, "I don't know what to do." The animal was still too young to speak, but he cuddled up against Giselle's cheek and chattered comfortingly at her.

Giselle was an incredibly resilient child. She spent little time wallowing before she got up and began the familiar chores that came with living in a cottage. For as long as she could remember, it had been just her and Miss Merryweather. She had only vague recollections of a woman with blood red curls and sad blue eyes; almost like a dream. The only visitor she and Miss Merryweather had ever had was Old Mr. Luka, who'd stopped coming around the year Giselle had turned nine. Now that Miss Merryweather was gone (Giselle somehow knew that the grumpy fairy wasn't coming back), Giselle had realized that she would have to learn how to survive without human company.

Andalasia was far less populated than the rest of the Enchanted Forest. Few humans ventured into that part of the forest as it was a haven for ogres. During the reign of King Luka IV, the ogre menace had been hunted down to near extinction. Since his death, however, the ogre population had grown exponentially. Young Prince Edward, a lad of twenty, was the only one who still partook of the sport. His stepmother, the queen, indulged him in the hope that it would keep him away from the pursuit of a wife. For if the prince was ever to marry, Narissa would lose her crown and Edward would become king.

Giselle, tucked safely away in her cottage in the forest, knew nothing of this. She continued on in her simple life in the hopes that someday her one true love would find her and give her a very special kiss. Little did she know that in six short years that day would come, but in a way that she never would have expected.

XXXX

Dawn had gone off on her own to explore the town when Emma had offered to walk Henry to school. The first place she wanted to check out was the library, but when she located it beneath the clock tower, she found that it was abandoned and locked up tight. Disappointed, Dawn wandered along the main street, ignoring the stares she was getting from the townsfolk, until she came to an interesting looking shop. Hanging above the shop was a sign that read Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer.

She entered the shop and the bell above the door tinkled in welcome. "Hello?" Dawn called out. The shop was dark and had an otherworldly feeling to it. No one was in sight, so she decided to look around at the intriguing pieces displayed around the room. She was careful not to touch anything, though, lest her clumsiness strike.

"How can I help you, dearie?" Dawn nearly jumped out of her skin at the unexpected voice with a thick Scottish accent. Dawn whirled around, nearly knocking a ceramic vase to the floor (she caught it just in time). The man standing in the middle of the shop was on the short side for a man (though still slightly taller than Dawn) and middle aged with chestnut brown hair that fell in waves to his chin. He was dressed impeccably in a black suit and a red tie and he leaned his weight on a fancy black, silver-tipped cane.

"Uh, I was just passing by and the shop looked really interesting so I thought I'd stop in and take a look around. There's some really fascinating stuff in here."

"I'm something of a collector of rare and priceless artifacts," said the man, his deep brown eyes (so terribly familiar) were guarded.

"Mr. Gold, I presume?" she said.

"Yes. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

"I'm Dawn Philip," she introduced herself. "I actually double majored in history and linguistics for my Bachelor's degree at Oxford, with a minor in world mythology and folklore. I'm currently finishing my graduate thesis on ancient languages remotely while my advisor takes some personal time off. Did you know you have a book in here that is written in a rare form of Ancient Greek that predates almost all written records?"

Mr. Gold looked at her thoughtfully. "Do I indeed?" he said, his face unreadable.

Dawn smiled widely. "Yeah, I was actually just working on translating the bit that I could see in the case before you came in. I don't suppose it's for sale?"

There was something odd, almost predatory, about Mr. Gold's smile. "Everything's for sale," he said, "…for the right price. Are you willing to make a deal for it, dearie?"

Dawn narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "That would depend on the conditions of the deal," said Dawn cautiously. "My dad taught me never to make a deal without first knowing every single detail and loophole and reading the fine print very carefully."

"He sounds like a wise man," said Mr. Gold, studying Dawn intently.

Dawn shrugged. "He's a New York City lawyer," she said. "It comes with the territory."

"You're Miss Swan's friend," said Mr. Gold.

"Sister, actually," said Dawn. "Swan's actually Emma's middle name; she only uses it as her last name when she wants to keep her personal and professional lives separate."

"And she won't mind you telling her secret to a total stranger?"

"What secret? That she's a Philip? She should be proud; us Philips are generally a very likeable bunch."

"Indeed, Miss Philip," said Mister Gold, his stare unnerving. "Two hundred up front and you help me out, organizing and cleaning my store twice a week for the duration of your stay in town—your choice of day and time—and the book is yours."

"Monday, ten AM and Thursday, two PM," said Dawn.

"Do we have a deal, then?" asked Mr. Gold, extending his hand.

"Deal," agreed Dawn, shaking the offered appendage.

Mr. Gold limped over to the case, leaning heavily on his cane, and removed the book. "Here you are, Miss Philip," he said, handing it to her. "I'll expect you here tomorrow at two."

"Thank you, Mr. Gold," she said, smiling. "I'll see you then." Dawn was giddy with excitement as she exited the store…until she answered her ringing phone.

XXXX

Dawn stormed into the tiny police station like a hurricane, her hip-length brown hair billowing behind her. "Emma Swan Philip," she seethed, "you'd think you'd spent enough time behind bars for one lifetime. I just can't leave you alone for a second, can I?"

Emma sighed and leaned her forehead against the metal bars of the cell. "I was framed," she said, frustration evident in her voice.

Dawn rolled her eyes, huffed, and crossed her arms. "That's what you always say, Em."

"That's because it's always true."

"Like you've never done anything illegal before," snapped Dawn.

Emma narrowed her eyes at her sister. "Oh, you're one to talk, Miss Kleptomaniac," she said.

"I was thirteen!" protested Dawn, throwing her hands in the air. "Are you ever gonna let that go?"

"Let me think about that…" Emma stroked her chin thoughtfully, "Little Miss Perfect has a dark side? Yeah, that's never gonna get old."

Dawn groaned and flopped down on the couch beneath the window in a jumble of limbs and hair. "I swear, Emma," she said, "you are such a pain in the ass sometimes."

"Say, Graham," said Emma, turning to the Sheriff and ignoring her sister's dramatics, "how much longer am I gonna be stuck here?"

"Well, if you can make bail, you can get out of here pretty quick," the scruffy sheriff said, stepping out of his office into the main room.

"Dawnie?" Emma turned pleading green eyes on her sister.

"Sorry, Em," said Dawn with a shrug, "I blew all my cash on a book."

Emma's eyes widened dramatically. "A book? You usually carry at least two hundred bucks on you; what kind of book costs that kind of money?"

"The kind that predates almost all written history and is in an extremely ancient dialect of Greek that only like three of four people in the whole world knows how to translate…me included." Dawn had the sense to look sheepishly at the floor as she spoke.

Emma banged her head against the metal bars hard. "Only you," she grumbled. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Miss Blanchard will bail you out," said Henry, walking into the station with his teacher.

"Hey, I know you," said Dawn, pointing a finger at Mary-Margaret. "You're that volunteer from the hospital."

"She's also my teacher," said Henry, coming over to sit with Dawn while Mary-Margaret took care of bailing Emma out.

"So who's she in the Enchanted Forest?" asked Dawn quietly.

"She's Snow White."

"Emma's birth mother?" Dawn's blue eyes darted back and forth between the two women. "Okay, I definitely see the resemblance, but the whole lack of an age gap is gonna take some getting used to."

"Ready to see our room?" asked Emma, interrupting the brunette pair.

Dawn jumped to her feet. "Am I ever," she said. "Are we gonna see the squirt home first?"

"Nah, I've got a session with Archie tonight," said Henry. "I'll just head over there. I'll see you later?"

"Course, squirt," said Dawn, ruffling his shaggy hair affectionately. "I'd like to see you try to get rid of me now."

Emma slung her arm over her taller sister's shoulders. "She's like a leech kid," said Emma, lips quirking into a small smile. "Once she's latched on to you, it's really hard to get her to let go."

XXXX

"I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss, and a prince I'm hoping comes with this…" Giselle sighed and wiped the sweat off her brow with her bare arm. She was eighteen and hadn't had any contact with another human being for four years, since she had had a run in with a strange girl with a red cape and her tough-as-nails grandmother. They had just been passing through on their way to King Leopold's kingdom in the north, so even that was hardly worth remembering. She lived day to day with the belief that her one true love would one day find her and take her away from this place…but some days were harder than others.

"Oh Pip," sighed Giselle, leaning on the handle of her broom, "do you think he'll ever come for me?"

Pip, now a fully grown chipmunk, scurried up Giselle to sit on her shoulder. "Don't worry, sweetheart," he said. "Of course he'll come. You just gotta keep on believing."

Giselle gave her best friend a small smile. "Thanks, Pip," she said, scratching his ears gently. "Sometimes I just forget. I'm glad I have you here to remind me."

"Anything for you, sweetheart. Now what say we call the others to help you finish cleaning up and then we can have a nice game of tag'n'chase?"

"Oh, Pip, you always know just how to cheer me up."

XXXX

"What do you mean we have to leave?" said Emma furiously.

"I'm sorry," said Granny, her voice as genuine as the expression on her face. "I was informed of a clause in my lease that prevents me from renting to felons."

Dawn touched Emma lightly on the shoulder. "Calm down, Ems," she said. "It's not Granny's fault."

Emma took a deep breath and sighed. "You're right. It's not your fault, Granny. Dawn and I will be out of your hair as soon as we have our stuff together."

"Actually Miss Swan," said Granny, a small smirk on her face, "your sister is welcome to stay, if she'd like. I have no grounds to ask her to leave."

"Perfect," said Emma before Dawn could protest. "If you could change the name on the bill to Dawn Philip, that would be great." She grabbed her favorite red leather jacket and headed out the door. "Thanks," she called back over her shoulder, disappearing from sight.

Dawn blinked her large eyes owlishly. "What just happened here?" she asked.

Granny grinned wolfishly. "You just got yourself a room, honey," she said. "Welcome to Storybrooke. I hope you enjoy your stay."

XXXX

Prince Edward was everything Giselle had ever dreamed of her one true love being. He was tall and handsome, dashing and brave. He had great hair, sparkling blue eyes, a killer smile, and the voice of an angel. She knew it was true love the moment she laid eyes on him and they sang their love duet together.

"You're the fairest maid I've ever met," Prince Edward sang. "You were made—"

"—to finish your duet," sang Giselle, clasping his hands in hers.

"And in years to come we'll reminisce," they sang together.

"How we came to love," sang Edward.

"And grew and grew love," sang Giselle.

"Since first we knew love through True Love's Kiss!" they finished their song together.

Prince Edward drew her close. "Come to my castle tomorrow," he said. "We shall be married with all haste."

"Of course, my prince," said Giselle, smiling brightly. "I can hardly wait."

"I shall count the minutes until we meet again, my love," he said, gently lowering her from his horse. "Fare thee well, fair Giselle."

"Farewell, Prince Edward," she called back, waving to him as he rode off through the forest. She couldn't stop smiling. She had found her one true love and soon they would be together forever.

XXXX

Dawn knocked loudly on the doorframe of the sheriff's office. "Knock knock," she called out redundantly.

Graham looked up from his paperwork and smiled. "Hello Dawn," he said. "What can I do for you?"

"I come bearing gifts," said Dawn, sliding into the room and holding up a paper bag and a Styrofoam cup holder with two paper coffee cups. "Donuts and coffee," she elaborated. "Well, coffee for you. I'm not allowed coffee after the incident with me and Willow at Central Park Zoo—it was not pretty, believe you me."

"Thank you, Dawn," said Graham, getting up and taking the offering from her. "Care to join me?"

"Sure thing, Sheriff Cutie," she said, dazzling him with her smile and taking the seat he pulled up to his desk for her.

"I've gotta ask though," he said, sitting back down, "donuts and coffee?"

Dawn shrugged. "I didn't know what you liked," she said, "so I figured I'd go for the stereotype."

Graham laughed; he had a nice laugh, thought Dawn. "Good choice, Dawn," he said. "I happen to love donuts and coffee."

"Excellent," said Dawn, selecting a chocolate covered, custard filled monstrosity topped with rainbow colored sprinkles, "because I happen to love donuts too."

"Is that so?" said Graham with a smirk. Dawn had a bit of custard on her nose, so he reached out impulsively to wipe it off with his thumb.

Dawn's breath hitched. "Yup," she said, trying to keep her cool. "My brother used to bring them home for his study sessions with my older sisters and he would always save a couple just for me."

"Sounds like a good brother," said Graham.

"One of the best," said Dawn, gazing distractedly into his haunted grey eyes.

"Tell me about him?" he asked, staring intently into Dawn's big blue eyes.

Dawn blushed bright red. "S-sure," she stuttered, his stare throwing her off balance, "but I'll have to tell you about the rest of my siblings too."

"That's okay," said Graham. "I've got all night."

"Alright," said Dawn. "Let's start with my oldest sister, then…"

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