#Curt says it. They shared their beliefs once. And Owen wants him to do it again but they’ve become too divided too different

[lilacmoon83]

Mysterious Fathoms Below

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 3: Believer

Snow gazed out at the water wistfully. Their farm wasn't far from it and though she absolutely adored their life now with their daughter, there were times she missed the carefree days in the ocean, exploring the realms and making love on beaches. She had thought her absence would finally help Regina find a way to move on. But if she knew that she was happy with Charming, even being mer-people, she supposed that it had probably only made her angrier. Snow had escaped, while Regina was still trapped in a web of her own hate and evil. She just had no idea how she had made it here to this world and from Owen was saying, she had brought everyone else with her. It didn't make sense and Emma whimpered, sensing her mother's distress.

"Oh, I'm sorry baby…" she soothed, as she kissed her tiny head. She sighed and leaned back against the sudden strong, warm embrace behind her and relished his kiss, as he pressed on to her head and then Emma's.

"We'll figure this out, my darling," he promised with a whisper in her ear.

"I know...I guess I should have known we couldn't really escape her," she lamented.

"I'm going to drive Owen there and have him show me where he thinks this town is," David said.

"But if she has magic protecting it now...then you won't be able to see it," she reminded. He realized she was right and became thoughtful at that.

"There might another way…" she said, as she looked into her eyes.

"No…" he refuted.

"David…" she started to say.

"Not by yourself," he protested.

"Someone has to stay with the kids," she reminded. He sighed. In their mer-person form, they could pass through any barrier around the town by water. If Owen was able to give them a general location, they could probably pinpoint where the Harbor might be. That's when he got an idea.

"Or once we think we know where it is...we get a boat and one of us can tow it there with the kids," he said.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" she asked.

"Not really, but I think separating is worse. I...I can't lose you," he replied. She smiled and gently kissed him.

"I can't lose you either. I guess we'll do this together," she said. He smiled and kissed her again.

"Come on...let's take that drive as a family. Owen can show us the last place he saw Regina," he said. She nodded and they walked back toward the house.

~*~

Mayor Regina Mills walked along the streets of her town that morning. She had just enjoyed a breakfast of apple pancakes at Granny's diner in her favorite seat, while the rest of the patrons coward in her presence.

"Morning Madam Mayor...it's a beautiful day," Archie Hopper greeted with his dog Pongo. She smirked.

"Yes, it is...doctor," she agreed, as she made her way toward the hospital.

She traversed the halls and no one bothered to question or stop her, as she made her way toward a locked door. She punched in a code and there was a beep from the keypad. She opened the door and descended the stairs into the psych ward. Nurse Ratched at the desk gave her a curt nod, as she made her way down the hall of patient cells. She stopped briefly at one cell to peer in at a brunette girl and with a satisfied smirked, she moved on until she found the cell of the reason she was here.

"Good morning Kurt," she said, as she peered in his cell.

"Where is Owen?" he questioned.

"My answer is the same as it was last time. I don't know...he left. He ran away and hasn't come back," she responded coldly.

"So he's out there...all alone? While you're keeping me prisoner," he spat.

"No one can know about this place," Regina responded.

"And I won't tell anyone! I just need to find my son! He's just a boy…" Kurt cried. But Regina was silent and let the flap close.

"You have to let me go! I need to find my son!" Kurt screamed, as she started to walk away. It was unlikely that he would ever get out, but if he did somehow...it could be very bad. Keeping him alive was risky and so she knew what she had to do. She had to eliminate the problem completely.

~*~

David drove them through the rural Maine roads, as Owen took them to the same place where he had tried to lead the Police. He was surprised they even believed him and that made him curious as to why.

"Can I ask a question?" he said suddenly. He was in back of the old station wagon with Emma, who was in her car seat. Mary turned and smiled at him.

"Of course sweetie," she said kindly.

"Do you know this Regina woman?" he asked. She looked at him and saw the pain in his eyes. It made her sad and she knew what he had been through would change him. It could be for good or bad and she had a feeling that without answers, it could be for the bad. Unless they did something or helped him in some way. She only hoped they could and she feared that there was more pain ahead for him.

"I do...she's my step-mother," Snow replied. His face was filled with surprise.

"Did she hurt you too?" he asked. Snow sighed.

"Yes...she did. That's why David and I had to leave our homeland. I thought that would satisfy her, but it seems she has followed us here," she replied.

"How did she bring a whole town?" he asked.

"Magic…" Snow answered.

"Then you believe me...it's all real," he stated. She nodded.

"We believe you and yes, magic is real," she confirmed.

"What's your real name?" he asked. She looked at him a little strangely.

"What makes you think Mary isn't my real name?" she questioned. He shrugged.

"I don't know...I just don't think it is," he replied. She and David shared a smile.

"You're intuitive," David complimented.

"You are and since you believe, I think I feel comfortable telling you. My real name is Snow White," she stated. He blinked, letting that sink in and he believed her. She definitely looked like Snow White might look.

"Is his real name David?" Owen asked. Snow chuckled.

"Yes...but sometimes I call him Charming," she replied. Realization dawned in his eyes.

"Then if Regina is your step-mother, that would make her...the Evil Queen?" he asked in disbelief. Snow nodded sadly.

"She wasn't always evil. There was a time she was good...but then something bad happened to her. She lost someone she loved and it was my fault," Snow said.

"Did you mean to do it?" Owen asked.

"What?" she questioned.

"I mean...did you do whatever you did on purpose?" he asked.

"Um...no, I didn't know that it was going to cause something bad to happen. I thought I was helping...and I made a terrible mistake. I was about your age," Snow confessed.

"But doesn't everyone make mistakes? Why would she want to keep being mad at you if you didn't mean to do it?" he asked.

"I...I don't know sweetheart. But I don't think she wanted to become my step-mother. That did not help things at all," Snow replied.

"What happened to your father?" he asked curiously and she felt her heart sink. She didn't want to tell him that part.

"Oh sweetie...he's gone now," she answered.

"Did she kill him?" he asked. She opened her mouth and gazed into his pleading eyes, which were filled with unshed tears.

"Please…" he begged. Snow nodded.

"Yes...she did," she confirmed. He lowered his head sadly and she reached for his hand.

"Hey...we're going to find your father, I promise," she said, as he looked up and noticed where they were.

"It was here," he announced, as David put the brakes on and parked the car. They got out and Owen looked around.

"This...this is it. I was here and there was a sign that said "Welcome to Storybrooke," he said.

"But...it's gone now," he said sadly. David put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Hey...like Snow said, we're going to find it," he promised.

"But how?" he asked. David exchanged a glance with his wife.

"Because there might be another way we can if we do it by using the ocean," David replied, as Snow nodded to him.

"There's something else we have to tell you, Owen...and it's going to stretch your belief even more. But it might be the only way we'll find him," David said.

"I believe you...I believe you're Snow White and Prince Charming! I believe that there's magic and that the Evil Queen has my dad! Please...tell me…" he pleaded. David smiled and ushered him back into the car.

"Easy...we'll tell you on the way home and what we're going to do next," he promised, as they got back into the station wagon. David turned them around and they headed back to their house.

"So...what's the other secret?" Owen asked. Snow and David exchanged another glance.

"I think that's a secret that's best shown to you rather than told," Snow said. Owen wondered what they could mean, but knew he would soon find out. After weeks of feeling hopeless, he finally had hope again...

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #feat baby Emma #AU #Snowing as mer-people #romance #family #adventure #Mermaid AU