Chapter Text
Since it's been a while since I've updated... Previously on Once Upon a Dream:
"If there is one thing I've learned from you, love, it's that almost anything is possible." She was close to him now—within touching distance—but he didn't reach for her, the pirate's arms remaining infuriatingly at his sides, his only movement switching his balance to his toes and leaning in with his body, his eyes sparkling with a mischief. "If you can't handle telling me about it, perhaps you could show me what you remember."
It was a challenge—a dare—and the moment reminded her of another, the memory fuzzy, hanging just out of focus.
This is your dream. You have the power.
Show him.
But if this is real….
If it's real you'll have your answers. And a pirate.
Show him.
Trust him.
She grabbed his coat and yanked him toward her.
And now... the conclusion...
Oh. My. God.
The pervading cold vanished the moment she crushed her mouth against his.
She was on fire.
His lips were hot against hers, meeting her every move perfectly—too perfectly—as if they'd performed this dance before.
No! It's a dream.
Does he feel like a dream?
Her fingers found his hair, tugging him closer as she nipped at his lower lip with her teeth, demanding entry.
A moan ripped from his throat, the vibrations echoing through her as he parted his lips, waiting for her, his fingers sliding along her shoulder, her neck, threading deep into her hair. His touch was light, almost delicate—leaving her in full control.
She slipped her tongue into his mouth, finding his waiting for hers and—
Her mind exploded when millions of memories slammed into her at once, a tidal wave knocking her off of her feet. She staggered forward, vaguely aware of his arms catching her.
The jumbled pieces scrambled to fit together and Emma fought to decipher fact from fiction.
Either I'm having the most elaborate, overly complicated and sensory dream in existence, or Hook is an extractor like in the movie Inception.
Or somehow I spent last year in a town that no longer exists where the Evil Queen adopted Henry, Rumplestilskin is his grandfather, I'm the Savior and broke a curse, I learned I'm the product of true love via Snow White and Prince Charming, and I became far too attached to Captain Hook while in Neverland and might—
"Swan, are you all right?" He cradled her close, something resembling panic on his face.
Her mind quieted, her eyes focusing on his. "Hook?" Her fingers reached for him, brushing a flip of hair out of his eyes before she realized what she was doing.
The worry melted from his face, and his eyes—dear god those eyes—filled with such relief and joy she couldn't help but smile in response.
"Aye, love?" He helped her upright as he spoke, pulling her body even closer, until they shared the breaths between them.
"I remember. How—" Unable to form the words she wanted to say, she brushed her lips against his, once, twice, feeling his fingers grip her tight as a sigh escaped from him.
How could I have forgotten this?
Forgotten him?
Guilt sliced through her.
I thought I was an orphan with no one but my son. That's why I started dating Walsh.
Thank god I've been taking it slow, or else…
I didn't know.
But I do now.
If I ever have to deal with another damn curse...
"You're going to kill me, darling, if you keep that up." He didn't pull away though, instead resting his forehead against hers again, his hand seeking hers and lacing their fingers together. "Sadly our time is here is not infinite and I require your help."
She squeezed his hand, finding the warmth reassuring and just… right… even as her mind screamed for answers. "What the hell is going on, Hook? What is this place?"
"It's a dream realm, a place between worlds where one can travel when asleep. A number of them exist and the problem is locating the correct one—one where you can control your actions." His hook pressed into her lower back, tugging her toward him until no space remained between them, as if the distance between them was still too great. "And once I learned that…well…all I needed was a little magic to make sure you found me."
Is that all?
"How did you find me?"
"Rum, or rather, the bottle of it you shared with me."
"You found me with a rum bottle?" She thought nothing could surprise her anymore.
"The spell required an object you'd had contact with and since the curse took everything you'd left in Storybrooke…well, let's just say I am very glad I never go anywhere without it."
His thumb traced the inside of her wrist and a shiver raced through her body at the tiny caress. "I don't understand. This is still a dream. We shouldn't be able to—" she swallowed as another shiver hit her "—touch each other."
"A reason I will be sure to thank Tinker Bell for the bit of pixie dust she added to Regina's spell. It seems to have done the trick."
"Regina helped you?"
"She hasn't dealt well with the loss of Henry. It has made her actions… a bit drastic."
I don't want to know.
The memories were sorted now—giving up Henry, Storybrooke, the curse, and the reason her life in New York never seem to fit. She knew reality from fiction, but couldn't shake the eerie familiarity of their interactions—and another thought hit her. "We've done this before, haven't we?"
Sadness drifted into his eyes for a moment before vanishing. "Aye, love. Twice."
What the hell?
If I don't recall those… what if this is somehow erased?
"What happened?"
"Without the use of pixie dust I was unable to return your memories. And without those, you proved most reluctant to help me." He sighed and squeezed her hand again. "I need to know where you are in your world."
So I can find you.
The unsaid words hung in the air.
He's trying to find me. He wants to find me.
He has no idea…
"Manhattan. We live in Manhattan. On the upper west side. But Hook, there's something I should—." Her words cut off as his mouth found hers and she sensed desperation behind his actions.
She could almost hear his thoughts shouting at her. Tick tock. Dreams don't last forever. Don't forget me, love.
Her free hand threaded into his hair, begging him to deepen the kiss.
I can't forget this. I need to make this a dream I remember.
With a groan he complied, his tongue slipping inside and fire raced down her limbs.
Every sense in this realm was somehow heightened, each touch and taste more potent, the pull between them strengthening with each touch, demanding she release any inhibitions her waking self would use as an excuse.
I have to remember.
She guided his hand—still entwined with hers—until it reached her chest, slipping her fingers from his and pressing his palm onto her breast.
He growled in response and used his body to push her backwards as his thumb played with her beneath the thin material of her shirt.
A moan slipped from her lips.
Why didn't I do this sooner?
They stumbled across the deck—her free hand pulling his shirt free and loosening a few buttons on his vest, his hook easing down one side of her shirt as his hand teased her body—until her back hit the mast.
She leaned into it and wrapped one leg around him, rotating her hips against his length. He broke the kiss and unwrapped her leg—uttering a string of curses as he fought to regain his breath.
She struggled to hold back her frustration, hiding it with a smile. "What's the problem, Hook? Can't handle it?"
"Bloody hell, Emma! I will not have our first time take place in a dream you might not remember, no matter how tempting it may be."
His passionate words hit her, and for a moment, she wanted to challenge his resolve, no matter the consequences. The spaces separating them allowed the heat to escape and cold spread throughout her, even where his body touched hers, the chill bringing a dose of harsh reality with it.
What the hell am I doing?
Hook's trying to rescue me and I'm practically ripping his clothes off in an attempt to have hot, dream realm sex, whatever that means.
I probably won't remember this.
Again.
But he might.
Oh god, he might remember everything.
And if I still believe my life is real, I won't know to break up with Walsh. I'll keep seeing him.
Because I like him.
But I lo—
I have to warn Hook.
"I'm seeing someone." The words blurted out before she could think of a better way to tell him. "For the last few months. His name is Walsh and he's nice and I thought Henry needed a good male role model in his life and—," she paused, a piece of her breaking as she caught the agony on Hook's face, "—I need you to find me because I can't remember you. Or my parents. I thought.. I thought all I had was Henry."
His eyes destroyed her—the pain shining in the blue depths. "Are you happy, love?"
She cradled his face in her hands, one thumb tracing the line of his jaw as she tried to make him understand. "I am, but my life, my whole life, is based on a lie. And I am so tired of lies." She whispered her address to him. "Find me. Soon."
Before I fall in love with Walsh and the life that doesn't belong to me.
Because I already…
Goddammit!
...I already love Hook.
She tried to tell him through her eyes what she couldn't speak in words, even in this realm.
"I will always find you, Swan." This time the kiss was gentle, light, but the power of it beat back the cold again and—thankfully—hurt no longer filled his eyes. "Not a day has gone by I've not thought of you, but matters have grown complicated in the Enchanted Forest and the path back to you has proven more difficult than I'd hoped." Another brush of his lips. "But I am coming for you, make no mistake."
He will find me.
He kept his promise to think of me.
He will keep this one.
Hopefully before I unwittingly hurt all three of us.
"I'll try to remember."
She had to.
It won't work. I never remember my dreams.
Regina's magic is strong.
But I'll try.
She isn't the only one with magic. Maybe mine will be enough.
What if it isn't?
Then my life might turn into romantic triangle clusterfuck.
"I will succeed. And if you don't remember, well then," he smiled at her, "we'll get to do this all over again."
"This?" It occurred to her she had no idea how he'd returned her memories within the dream. "How did you break the spell and make me remember?"
His only answer was another kiss, this time slow and thorough, taking the time to taste her as if it was their first all over again. Her body melted into his, seeking as much contact as possible as she met each move of his mouth.
The first hint that something changed was a tingle in her toes—not unlike when her foot fell asleep.
Hook pulled her tighter, as if he sensed it too, but refused to stop the kiss.
The numb sensation travelled up her legs and she stiffened as fear hit her, pulling her lips from his. "Hook?"
"It's all right, love. You're waking up. Let's not waste these last few moments." His mouth covered hers again and she strengthened her grip, pretending if she held tight enough he would return with her.
Don't let this end. Please.
She couldn't feel her torso now and was afraid if she glanced down, half her body would be missing, vanishing from the dream piece by piece. She focused on his face instead, drinking in the the obvious love etched upon it and accepting it for the first time.
I can't lose this.
"Save me," she whispered against his lips. "Please."
"As you wish."
And it hit her as his heat left her, a smile of promise spread across his face as he vanished from her grip, exactly how he'd broken the spell.
Or rather, how she had, when she'd yanked him towards her.
True love's kiss.
And then she was cold, shivering on the couch as the TV droned in the background—some infomercial—the sun creeping into the windows and chasing away the dream.
Hook Hook Hook. Remember…
Emma yawned and stretched, blinking back the sleep from her eyes, suddenly craving a strong cup of coffee.
She stood, cursing the tight muscles from sleeping on the couch as a nagging sense she was missing.. something.. tugged at her memory.
It was a dream.
I think it was dream.
There was something I was supposed to remember from it.
She walked into the kitchen, starting the coffee, noting the time and how she had to wake up Henry soon.
Maybe I didn't dream after all.
She drank her coffee, curling into the dining room chair, wondering at the sensitivity of her lips as they pressed against the rim of the mug.
How odd.
She finished her coffee and walked to her bathroom to get ready before Henry commandeered it.
She caught her reflection in the mirror and froze.
Her hair was a disaster, darting every which way as if she'd tossed and turned all night. Her lips were red and swollen like…
...Like I spent the night having hot sex.
All she recalled was watching Letterman interview the star of the big action movie coming out this weekend.
Maybe I should watch more Letterman. Or go see that movie.
Maybe you should get laid.
She shook her head, laughing as she pulled out her tooth brush.
She wasn't ready to let Walsh that close… yet. But maybe some time soon she would let him meet Henry.
She brushed her teeth, ignoring the tiny voice whispering in her head.
Remember.
That brings this fic to its conclusion.
Did you love it? Hate it? Want to see something else happen?
I admit, it was rather fun to write a less guarded Emma, because when you're unconscious, your mind is free and anything is possible.
Including admitting you love a pirate and might need his help.
Review?