First, again, thanks to my fanship, small as it is. Thanks to Victoria...you have always been in my corner. And thanks to Holly, my new friend and fellow EvilRegal.

The usual disclaimers apply.

By the way, I hoped you like the last chapter, it was a way to give an alternative theory on what happened to Sheriff Hottie. There may be more embedded in this story, that may include some drabbles as we go along.

This one's gonna be a long series. Settle down.

…...

Day 1: 9:42am

Gold's Pawn Shop has been open for almost an hour. Mr. Gold usually doesn't expect much of a flow inside his small shop. As a matter of fact, there are days where there is no traffic at all. But he window view gives the proprietor a pretty good look at the goings on in his town. And what he sees this morning troubles him.

First, there's the Blanchard woman and her slightly amnesiac boyfriend headed to the mayor's house, probably to participate in the latest battle-royal between the mayor and the sheriff...except the latter two have been very close as of late and the donnybrooks have quieted down quite a bit.

Then that young couple, Ashley and Sean. That woman outfoxed Gold in a business deal and he's been steamed ever since.

Judge Frannie Crow, and old friend of the mayor's is now showing up. So's Hopper the town shrink and his new girlfriend, Kathryn.

Something was up. Gold took out his iPhone and dialed. It picked up on the first ring.

"Something is going on at the Mills house. Keep an eye out...let me know if you see any..."

Anything unusual? Like the publisher of the Daily Mirror showing up?

"...just keep an eye out and call me in an hour." Gold immediately hit the red button. The concern was evident by the furrowed brow on his face.

9:57am

They were punctual, that was for sure.

Mayor Regina Mills personally welcomed each guest into her home. There was concern on the faces of most, puzzlement on the rest. After all, there are people who have had those dreams before...some who have not.

Emma was busy pouring coffee, handing out hugs (and in the face of her parents, Snow and John, kisses). When everyone started getting their memories back, the full curse was not lifted and everyone stayed in Storybrooke. So it was decided, that for any outsiders who strayed in, they would keep their Realm personalities to themselves. Keeps the strait-jackets and the rubber walls at bay.

Arch and Kathryn were there...after David/John split from Kathryn and she got that job at the inn, she and Arch became friendly. Snow and Charming were there too. Snow felt sorry for the young blond and remembered that as Abigail in the Realm, their relationship was arranged. She and John kept their friendship, and occasionally the ladies would be caught at the inn after work trading notes on the man they shared...to the once and future king's chagrin.

The Judge chatted with the mayor. Before she was know as Frannie "Mallie" Crow, she was Maleficent, best friend of Regina and just as notorious. But she's also been a confidant of Regina's, especially dealing with her feelings toward Emma.

Granny and Rose were also there...Inn was closed for the morning. There was a time when Granny and the queen was adversaries. But Regina always has a kind spot for the woman and never harmed her, even at their most contentious. Rose was a young woman of mystery...a goth who held a secret or two from her days as Red Riding Hood.

Ashley and Sean ("Cinder" Ella and HER prince also had the dream, but they had a 1 year old daughter to take care of).

Henry can down to join the throng. Both Regina and Emma did not want him included, but Snow pointed out that Henry had the same dream, so whether anyone liked it or not, he was part of the scenario and had to be included in the planning.

After the usual hellos, how-are-yous, and such, everyone adjourned to the main living room. Snow, in full Mary Margaret dress, explained the dream system...that these dreams were not metaphorical. These were things that will happen unless something is done.

"Boston stands for Boston, those red dragons were not undercooked veal and Graham does turn into a wolf and..." Snow stopped short. Curious looks all around, but Snow knew the end of that sentence. So did Emma and Regina.

After a long heavy breath, Snow asked the obvious: "So what do we do now?

Her daughter, the sheriff had an answer: "First thing, let's make sure my predecessor is still dead."

James/Dad: "You ARE talking about exhuming the body..."

Regina: "We need a court order..."

Frannie was punching on her iPhone during the conversation, looking up for a second to say, "just a minute."

And in less than that, the sound of the laser printer at the computer desk across the room started humming, then cranked out two sheet of white paper.

Frannie: "Thank God for HP!"

Those sheets were forms for an exhumation court order, already signed by Judge Frances Crow. "All you have to do is fill in the blanks, hun."

Both Regina and Emma looked on the judge with what could only be described as awe. But the judge formerly known as Maleficent just smiled and said...not ALL the magic comes from me." Quiet chuckles were the response.

Granny chimes in: "Ok, we dig up Graham, but what about Boston? And us? WE were in that dream.."

Archie adds: "...not to mention how would he come up with five fire breathing dragons?"

Regina: "I know...we know where. And probably the who. Its the what, when and why that's the bitch."

Emma: "And how do we warn Boston? (Mockingly) Hi I'm Sheriff of small town in Maine, this is Snow White, Prince Charming, and the Evil Queen...we're here to tell ya five fire breathing dragons are going to torch your city.. (now a bit more somber) ...and I wear a size 5 straitjacket."

"Maybe you might not be THAT honest..." "Charming" now chimes in. "Work the homeland security angle...credible terrorist threat...which this is"

Henry beams, "Yeah...Operation Red Dragon!"

"Perfect!" Regina beams at her adopted son, while Emma gives him a hug and a hair-muss.

So it was settled. Regina and Emma would arrange to get the grave dug up, everyone else would go back to what they were doing. Snow would give Ella the information on the morning meeting. Just one other question.

Rose: "Do you think Gold knows?"

Regina: "Trust me...he's probably already working on something to defeat us."

Henry, looking at his moms with all the trust in the world added. "I wanna see him try."

…...

Later after everyone had gone and gone and Henry went to his room, Emma and Regina were alone in foyer of the mayor's home. Emma moved in and embraced her lover, remembering a time when they were not so close...

"Queenie, you remember when you handed me that badge. Gold was running my campaign and you told me that I didn't pick a good friend, but he made a superlative enemy...I think those were your words..."

Regina was so tantalizingly close: "yeah. something like that. Why you ask, Swan..."

"Something that Henry said...that good always wins because good always plays fair, evil doesn't. But we're about go up against Rumpelstiltskin. How can you play fair against that?

Regina brings the blond even closer..."Then we have to play by his rules. And win.."

A small smirk comes over Emma.."So you admit you are the EVIL queen.."

The mayor returns that smirk with her own.."I was. You changed that...but I may have to get evil again. After all, as I said, you don't know what I can do.."

Emma, coming even closer if that were possible, corrected her..."No he doesn't know what WE can do."

And with that, Regina and Emma fused their mouths together. Savoring what may be one of the last tender moments they would have for awhile...

…...

Sorry, not the best chapter, but it WILL get better. Trust me.

To be continued. Next: Digging up the past...in more ways than one.