#because my teacher didn’t have the foresight to see how walking miles would be a problem

[national-hockey-gay]

being disabled and having a support system is so important because it turns mundane (and often frustrating) tasks into acts of love.

everytime i clip my nails, i think of the high school teacher who helped me through seizures at least once a week for two years straight. everyday she’d gently take my hands and inspect my nails to make sure i was keeping them short enough that i couldn’t hurt myself while seizing.

it’s easier to be less ashamed of my mobility aids when one of my coworkers spent months building me different canes to use, colored to match my outfits and infused with glow-in-the-dark dye so i’d stop losing my cane in the dark parts of the building.

i eat cheesitz for salt when i’m feeling dizzy and it reminds me of high school, sitting next to my best friend and in the classroom of my favorite teacher who both kept salty snacks in their bags for when i wasn’t feeling good.

being disabled can suck in so many ways, but it’s also brought love into a lot of simple but impactful areas of my life.

[lilacmoon83]

Dreaming Out Loud

This is based on Snow's comment in season 5 when she asked Emma if it would have made a difference had Emma been able to hear their voices. So what if she had been able to in her dreams? What if she had been able to see them in her dreams every night and they told her everything. What if when Henry came to find her, she already knew everything? How different would things be? This is that story.

I am also going to be weaving in a subplot involving characters from Greek Mythology with what I think is an exciting twist on the past. These flashbacks will also eventually reveal just exactly how and why the dreamscape is possible.

Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, eventual Swanfire, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming Brotp. :)

Dreaming Out Loud

Chapter 2: Believer

"Here's your key. Enjoy your stay, Miss Swan," Granny said, as she handed the blonde a room key.

"Thanks...and it's just Emma," she replied.

"Emma...what a lovely name," she heard an accented male voice say behind her. Emma turned and kept her expression even, betraying no emotion. Her parents had told her about the Dark One, though she almost wasn't sure this was him. This guy didn't have any scales like her father described and walked with the assistance of a cane.

"The rent isn't due until next week," Granny protested. Though he had been making his weekly rounds to pressure his tenants for their rent payments, everything was suddenly different in an instant. The feared Mr. Gold that owned most of the town now had a new awareness.

"I'm not here for payment. I just wanted to welcome our visitor to town. We don't get many in Storybrooke," he mentioned.

"Yeah...I keep getting that from people. Emma Swan and you are?" she asked. He smirked.

"Mr. Gold. I own the pawnshop," he replied. She could tell he was analyzing her. This was definitely him. Rumplestiltskin.

"I'm sure I'll be seeing you around town. Good evening, Miss Swan," he said, as he hobbled out.

Awake...he was awake at last. His routine visit to the inn to collect rent from Widow Lucas had yielded much more than expected. A stranger was in town by the name of Emma Swan. Emma...she was here and it was finally time to begin. He sensed more with her though. He had fully expected to meet the eyes of a skeptic woman, but there was something behind those familiar green eyes. If Emma Swan was a believer already, it might change everything. He had no idea how she could know...unless the Gods themselves had some sort of interference. Normally, he wouldn't give such a thing a second thought, but considering a certain princess' secret unknown(except to him) lineage, he suspected a certain goddess may have had a hand in all of this. And for all his foresight, he had no idea how that would play out with his plans. He smirked. At last, this town wouldn't be bore any longer.

Dreamscape

"Mmm...you know for a dream, that was pretty amazing," Snow purred, as she lay entangled beneath the bedclothes with her husband. He chuckled.

'Well, I hope I can do as well when we're finally together again...you know awake," he replied, as he dropped a kiss to her forehead. She smiled coyly.

"Oh I have no doubts in your prowess in bed, Prince Charming," she praised, as she kissed him passionately.

"It won't be long, my darling. Emma's twenty-eight. She's going to find us and then we'll have more than our dreams to live on," he promised with that unwavering faith he always seemed to have a plethora of. They gazed at each other with passion shining in their eyes, as their lips crashed together again.

"Mom? Dad?" they heard a voice call.

~*~

Emma was finally asleep after hours of tossing and turning. It was to be expected though. Her mind was running a mile a minute. She had finally found the place the curse had brought everyone to. And after meeting Regina, she knew breaking the curse would not be easy.

"Mom? Dad?" she called.

"Uh...just a second honey!" she heard her mother call and the bedsheets rustling. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Honestly, she loved that her parents were so in love. It was one thing that had given her comfort throughout the years, even in her angry teen years where all she did was scream at them. But knowing that they loved her and each other more than anything made all the difference. Hearing their voices and seeing them in her dreams was everything. But she could do without the PDA. If they were like this asleep, she was sure they would be worse awake.

"Emma...happy birthday sweetheart," Snow said, as she hugged her tightly. Emma smiled and hugged her back.

"Thanks Mom," she whispered.

"Happy birthday Princess," David said, as he opened his arms. Emma grinned and dove in with a big hug for him and felt her anxiousness ebb away, as he cradled her head.

"Mom, Dad, I found it...the place that the curse took everyone!" Emma revealed. Snow and David looked at her with hope in their eyes.

"You found us?" Snow asked.

"I haven't seen you yet...but I know you're there. It's a town and Regina's running the whole place," Emma replied.

"Then you saw Regina?" David asked. Emma nodded.

"We knew you'd find us...how did you do it?" Snow asked. Emma smiled.

"Well...I didn't do it alone," Emma said, knowing she had to tell them. She turned and sat down.

"Honey...what is it?" Snow asked.

"You remember when I...had to give up my son?" she asked.

"Yes...if only we had been there. You wouldn't had to do that," David said sadly.

"Daddy..." she started to say.

"And don't get me started on that little worm that betrayed you and broke your heart," David continued.

"Charming..." Snow tried to sooth him by brushing her hand on the back of his neck.

"My son...he found me," she blurted out, silencing them.

"His name is Henry...and he knows about the curse. He's a really great kid," she said.

"Henry?" Snow asked curiously.

"We have a grandson?" David asked. She nodded.

"Wait...how does he know about the curse?" Snow asked.

"That's the thing...he lives in Storybrooke. That's what the town is called. He was adopted after I gave him up...by Regina," she revealed, causing her parents to go rigid.

"Regina...is raising your son?" Snow squeaked.

"Our grandson?" David added. Emma nodded with a wince.

"Does...does she know?" Snow asked wearily.

"No...she had no idea who I really am," Emma replied.

"Wait...how does Henry know then?" David asked.

"Well...there's a book with everyone's stories in it. He figured it out after his teacher gave him this book that she just found. He knew something was off, because he's the only one that ages. He's really smart...but has trouble making friends. I mean, by the time he has a friend, he moves on in school, while all the other kids in his class stay behind. He's the only one changing," Emma explained. She didn't tell him that the teacher that gave him the book was Miss Blanchard, her mother's meek counterpart...not yet.

"Have you seen us?" Snow asked.

"Not yet, but it was pretty late when we got to town. I'm staying at the inn. Granny runs it, apparently," she mentioned. Her parents softened at the mention of the elder woman.

"You'll be in good hands, then," he said.

"We love you so much, baby," Snow said, as she hugged her and Charming joined them, cradling her head.

"I love you guys too. We're close...we're finally going to be a real family," Emma said. They nodded.

"So...tell us all about our grandbaby," Snow gushed, making Emma laugh.

~*~

The next morning, Emma awoke to the chirping of bluebirds on her windowsill. She had never quite had the affection for birds that her mother did, but all her life they had certainly had affection for her. It was like they knew somehow exactly who she was.

After a shower and getting dressed, she headed over to the diner for breakfast, after grabbing a paper. If she was going to stick around town, she needed to find a job.

As she walked into the diner, she was surprised to be walking into a scene. Regina was yelling and the victim of her tirade made her heart skip a beat. It was her mother...though this woman could barely look at the Mayor and seemed meek. And her blood boiled, seeing Regina mistreat anyone, let alone her mother.

"Mom...please! Miss Blanchard didn't know! I stole her credit card!" Henry pleaded. Emma glanced around and was infuriated that no one except her kid had the spine to jump to her mother's defense. She knew it wasn't really their fault, but it still made her angry.

"You be quiet, Henry," Regina snapped.

"Madam Mayor...I had no idea giving Henry a book would cause so much trouble. I'm sorry," Mary Margaret pleaded.

"Save it, Miss Blanchard," Regina snapped, as she tossed onto the table.

"One more incident and I'll be having a visit with the principal to make sure your job is terminated!" Regina threatened.

"Hey!" Emma called, as all eyes went to her.

"Want to take it down a notch, Mayorzilla?" Emma growled.

"Excuse me? This is none of your business, Miss Swan. Henry, let's go," she snapped. Henry gave her a sad look and reluctantly followed.

"Hey...are you okay?" Emma asked. Mary looked up and then around.

"Me?" she asked. Emma smiled.

"Of course you. I don't care who she thinks she is. She has no right to treat anyone like that," Emma said. Mary laughed bitterly.

"You must be new around here," she replied.

"Emma Swan," she introduced herself. Mary's eyes widened.

"You're..." she stammered.

"Henry's birth mother. Can I buy you a hot cocoa?" Emma asked.

"Um...sure," Mary said, a little confused. Emma smiled and went to the counter and soon returned.

"Oh...I forgot to ask you to...¦" she trailed off, noticing there was already cinnamon on it.

"Sorry...I should have asked. I always drink mine with cinnamon," Emma mentioned.

"Oh...so do I. What a coincidence," Mary mentioned and Emma smiled knowingly.

"Must be," she pretended to agree.

"So...you're Henry's birth mom?" she asked awkwardly.

"Yeah, it was a surprise when he showed up, but he's a great kid," Emma replied.

"He is...he's so special. But I think I made a mistake giving him that book. I just wanted to give him hope...you know?" she asked.

"I do...hope is important. I think it was the best thing you could have done," Emma replied.

"Regina doesn't think so," Mary murmured.

"Screw Regina," Emma retorted and they laughed, as they drank their hot cocoa.

"Well...I better get to the hospital for my shift," Mary said.

"You work two jobs?" Emma asked.

"Oh no, I just volunteer a few days during the week after school and on Saturdays," Mary explained.

"I really feel like I might at least make some difference in the patients lives or so I like to tell myself," she said shyly.

"The hospital...of course," Emma muttered. Her father had been mortally wounded the night of the curse. What if that was where he had been all these years?

"Do you mind if I tag along?" Emma asked.

"Sure!" Mary exclaimed, a little eagerly.

"Great. Since I'm going to be hanging around, I need to start looking for a job," Emma mentioned.

"You're staying around?" Mary asked hopefully.

"For Henry," Emma said. And you and Dad, she added silently. Mary smiled.

"Henry will love that. You know, he has a big imagination. I think that's why Regina is so mad. Henry thinks the stories in his book are real," Mary mentioned.

"Imagination is good. You know, people never listen to kids and sometimes, they turn out to be right about everything," Emma said, hoping to plant a spark of something in her. Regina had pushed Snow down deep inside Mary Margaret for so long and it was Emma's job to bring her out.

"Wouldn't that be something?" Mary joked. Emma smiled.

"Wouldn't it?" Emma agreed, as she grabbed the book.

~*~

Sidney Glass waltzed into the Mayor's office with a creepy grin that he often wore.

"You rang, Madam Mayor?" he asked.

"You're late," she snapped, as she closed the office door.

"Forgive me, I was actually working," he said, with a chuckle.

"There's never anything to write about in this piss ant town...until now, what with a certain blonde visitor and all," he mentioned.

"Visitor is the operative word, Sidney," Regina replied.

"That's not what I hear. Word has it that Miss Swan is looking for a job," he revealed. Regina frowned.

"What?" she questioned. He nodded.

"What did you find on her?" she asked.

"Not much. Orphan...seems to be a loner. Never stays in one place too long. But everything before the age of eighteen is sealed," he reported.

"Why?" Regina asked. He shrugged.

"Juvenile record...it's sealed," he answered.

"Then unseal it!" Regina snapped. He rolled his eyes.

"You know I don't have that kind of power," Sidney protested.

"Then find someone who does and make it happen!" Regina shouted.

"Yes...Madam Mayor," he said, as he left. Regina sat in thought for a moment.

Outsiders in town were too risky and she had to get rid of this woman. She smirked and left to pay Widow Lucas a visit. Emma Swan would have no choice but to leave if she had no place to stay. Regina grinned evilly and stalked out to her car.

~*~

Emma's breath caught in her throat, as she gazed through the glass in the ICU wing. She had followed Mary around, doing her rounds, for the last two hours and really enjoyed her company. She could tell Mary did too. Her mother was very lonely, thanks to a certain Queen.

But now, there he was...her father. Comatose.

"Who is he?" Emma asked, as they put fresh flowers on his bedside table.

"No one knows. He's a John Doe," Mary replied. She noticed her mother's longing look and smiled quietly. Even without her memories, she was drawn to him. Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"You know, Miss Blanchard, I would be better company than a comatose man," Dr. Whale joked.

"That's debatable," Emma heard her mother mutter.

"Come on...what do you say to dinner tonight? Then maybe drinks at my place?" Whale leered and Emma's hackles went up. She could tell her mother was torn, only because the thought of being alone was almost as unappealing as the sleazy doctor. But Emma knew men like this. He wanted one thing and that was to get into her mother's pants.

"She can't...we have plans," Emma answered for her. Mary looked at her in surprise and then smiled gratefully.

"Yes...we're having...a girl's night!" she said excitedly.

"And you are?" Whale leered, looking Emma up and down.

"Not even if you were the last man on Earth," she shot back. Thankfully, Whale took the hint and walked out.

"Thanks...he can be so creepy. I might have actually given in if you hadn't been here," Mary said.

"Do me a favor and never date that guy," Emma requested.

"Deal," Mary replied, as she gazed longingly again at John Doe.

"You know, I read somewhere that reading to coma patients increases cognitive function," Emma mused and Mary snorted, but then looked at her new friend.

"You're serious?" Mary asked. Emma shrugged.

"Why not? Here...read Snow White. Who knows, he might like it," Emma suggested. Mary cocked her head to the side and then sat down besides his bed.

"Okay...here goes," she said, feeling a little silly. But Emma only smiled.

~*~

Jefferson watched Grace play at the park from afar. He was careful not to be seen or get too close, for he didn't want people to get the wrong idea. He watched her cursed parents dote on her and he was glad she was being well cared for. But part of him couldn't help but burn with envy. He supposed that was the point of his curse. To remember and not be able to do anything about it.

But the Savior was in town and had already made waves. Jefferson was impatient though. Twenty-eight years of awareness would do that. He wanted Regina to pay. He wanted to see her face as she watched her curse slowly crumble before her. He smirked, as an idea struck him. Perhaps there was something he could do, after all. He chuckled.

"Oh...revenge will be sweet," he mused, as he set off back home. He had a note to write to a certain pawnbroker.

~*~

"Psst...Emma..." Henry whispered, as he peaked into the room.

"Kid..." Emma hissed, as she got up, leaving Mary Margaret to keep reading.

"How are you here? Doesn't the Mayor have you under lock and key?" she asked. He shrugged.

"She's at her office so I snuck out," he replied nonchalantly. Emma tried to hide her smirk. This was definitely her kid.

"You found him," Henry said in awe, as he spotted his teacher reading to the man in the bed.

"Yep...looks like he's been in a coma all these years," Emma replied.

"Do you think Miss Blanchard can wake him?" Henry asked.

"If anyone can, it's her," Emma replied.

"EMMA!" Mary Margaret called, as they rush into the room.

~*~

"And it was there in the shadow of the Troll Bridge that their love was born," Mary recited and then gasped, as the comatose man put his hand atop hers.

"Emma!" she called, as they rushed into the room.

"He's waking up!" Henry exclaimed.

"Dr. Whale!" Mary Margaret called, as the doctor rushed into the room.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I was reading to him and he grabbed my hand!" Mary explained.

"Everyone out," Whale ordered, as the three of them waited outside impatiently, until Whale finally emerged about five minutes later.

"Is he awake?" Emma asked.

"I'm sorry, but there's no change," Whale informed.

"No...he grabbed my hand," Mary insisted.

"Maybe you imagined it," Whale suggested.

"I did not imagine it!" Mary retorted.

"It could have been reflexes then. I'm going to have to ask you to leave now. Visiting hours are over," Whale stated.

"I didn't imagine it," Mary hissed to Emma.

"I know...let's go grab some coffee and then we'll sneak back up here," Emma suggested.

As they retreated, Whale took out his phone and dialed a number.

"It's Whale. You told me to call if there was a change in the John Doe," he stated.

~*~

Regina slammed the phone down. Charming was waking up...this wasn't good. Her wretched stepdaughter was getting too close to him. One look at her and the confused coma patient would be swooned back under the little wretch's spell. She had to stop to make before going to the hospital. She had to make sure Snow and Charming were kept apart and she knew just how to do it.

~*~

When he awoke, it was to a world of confusion. As he looked around the white room, he found nothing familiar. He was in a bed and there were strange tubes attached to him. It was alarming and he quickly ripped them out. He didn't know what kind of place this was, but it had to be some sort of madhouse. Tubes inserted into his body and he was barely clothed in this strange gown. He opened the wardrobe beside the bed, finding stranger clothes inside. But at least there was pants and he quickly put them on, followed by what seemed like an overcoat. He was glad to see the boots and put those on as well. He looked at the wardrobe once he was finished dressing and it reminded him of another wardrobe. Emma...he had to find Emma and Snow. Then it dawned on him. This place...it was the curse. He rushed out of the room and down the hallway, elated to see a familiar face. Grumpy was at the end of the stark white hall with a broom.

"Grumpy!" he called, but the dwarf didn't answer him.

"Grumpy...I need you to gather the other dwarves. We need to find Snow…" he said.

"Who the hell are you calling Grumpy? And dwarf? You making fun of my height too, pretty boy?" he growled, balling his fist. Charming looked taken aback, as the other man seemed to have no idea who he was. Backing away, he saw a door and went through it. He felt cold air and followed the staircase down a few flights until there was another door. He could smell the woods from behind the door and hurried out into the cold air. The woods...maybe Snow was hiding in the woods. He would find her.

"I will always find you, Snow," he said, as he took off running into the thicket of trees.

~*~

Emma, Henry, and Mary Margaret returned to the ICU unit with their drinks in hand and noticed a commotion.

"What's going on?" Mary asked one of the nurses.

"John Doe...he's gone," she said. Mary's heart dropped.

"What do you mean gone?" Mary squeaked, but the nurse had no answer, as she rushed off.

"Whale...what's going on?" Emma asked, noticing Graham was there.

"We're about to find out," Graham said, gesturing to the television screen.

"There he is!" Mary Margaret cried, as they watched the patient stumble toward the exit.

"Where does that door lead to?" Emma asked.

"The woods," Graham said worriedly.

"We have to find him!" Mary Margaret cried, as she took off with Emma hot on her heels.

"Stay here kid!" she called, as Graham followed.

~*~

Mr. Gold stared at the card with scrutiny. It had arrived via bird, which was intriguing in of itself. In Storybrooke, that meant only a couple people could have sent it.

Fortunately, the message contents quickly ruled out Regina. Plus the Queen didn't really use birds for communication, rather she just barged in with demands.

"Regina lied to you about her." J. That was all it said, but it was clear enough to him. He crumpled the piece of parchment in his fist and his mind raged. If it was true...if she was still alive...then Regina had to pay. If she was alive, it meant the Queen had her locked up somewhere...locked up for the last twenty-eight years. Oh yes, Regina had to pay if it were true and Jefferson had no reason to lie. He had always been a good employee and had his own reasons for wanting Regina to pay. He suspected the Hatter was as tired of waiting for the curse to break as he was.

Without magic though, punishing Regina would prove to be more difficult to accomplish. Then he heard the latest gossip, as he made his rounds around town that evening. The John Doe patient at the hospital was awake and had wandered off. The Sheriff's department was currently scouring the town for him.

He allowed himself a small smirk. He knew what Regina's ploy would be if Prince Charming was really awake. That's why he was here on Kathryn Nolan's doorstep, holding this ridiculous windmill.

"Mr. Gold…" the simpering Kathryn Nolan said wearily, as she answered the door.

"Mrs. Nolan...I was hoping to have a word with you," Gold said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't have much time. I have to get to the hospital. David is awake! Regina just called me! Isn't it a miracle?" she gushed.

"Yes quite...that is actually what I came here to discuss. Do you remember this?" he asked, as she looked at it and seemed to go into some sort of brief trance.

"Yes...I gave this to David in the divorce," she recalled.

"Really? Hmm...before his accident, he said he'd like for you to have it. You made it, after all," he guided and handed it to her.

"Yes…" she answered.

"Well...good evening, Mrs. Nolan," he said.

"Oh...it's Richards again. Kathryn Richards...I went back to my maiden name after the divorce," she relied.

"Of course," Gold stated, pleased, as he turned to leave.

"Mr. Gold...if you see David, give him my well wishes," she called.

"I'll certainly do that," Gold replied.

"It was a messy divorce, but I truly hope he finds someone," she mentioned. Gold looked coy.

"You know...I have a feeling he will," Gold said, as limped back to his car.

But the night wasn't over. Regina's bold move in making him think Belle was dead all these years changed everything. Without magic, he needed allies. Jefferson was a clear choice. He wanted Regina to go down for keeping him from his daughter. And then there was Charming. The Prince usually wasn't one for vengeance, but if he had his memories as Gold suspected he might, then he would want Regina to pay for ripping his family apart. Yes...things in Storybrooke had reached a whole new level of interesting...