𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ★ 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 ⁷

•Chapter 14: Dreamland•

"Wanna tell me about your mom?" I hear Emma ask Rumplestilskin after the four of us left the cottage to continue walking through the foggy forest in silence. As soon as the Savior finishes her question, the Dark One comes to a sudden stop a few feet in front of us while keeping his eyes glued to the ground beneath his feet. Emma lets out an irritated sigh at his lack of answer before leaving Katherine and me to stand next to the man's side. "Why were we just in her house?"

"It's a figment of my subconscious. It doesn't matter," he explains before we begin walking down the trail once again

"I think it does. I was an orphan, too. I know how this goes. One moment you hate them, the next you miss them," Emma retaliates while looking over at Rumplestilskin, who doesn't return her gaze, "I've been on that rollercoaster. I just need to know that when I go to defeat her, that you're really on my side."

"Are you serious?" the Dark One questions after coming to a sudden stop in the middle of a clearing near a small lake before turning to face the blonde woman, "do you really think that was a fond memory? Being back in that house? That woman never cared for me, never loved me, never did one thing a mother should. She never even gave me a name. And when you defeat her, I won't shed a single tear. So, please, don't assume we share the same story. I just wanna find my son."

"I think this is the first time in my life that I actually feel sorry for the man," Katherine whispers, causing me to send her a nod in response as the two of us continue to watch the scene in front of us.

"You already have."

At the sound of the new voice, we all turn towards the small lake to see Gideon standing on the shore with a small smile on his face. After the five of us stare at each other in silence, my ears pick up on the relieved sigh escaping the Dark One as his son slowly makes his way over to us before the latter pulls his father in for a long hug. When they finally end their reunion, the two continue to watch each other with relief in their eyes before another grin forms on Gideon's face.

"Thank you...for fighting for me," he says to his father as the smile on his face does nothing but grow, causing tears to form in the Dark One's eyes before a small smile appears on his face.

"I would do anything for you, son," Rumplestilskin responds before reaching up and wiping a single tear that ran down Gideon's face, "now...tell me where your heart is."

"I...I can't. I'm sorry," the brunette man responds with a shake of his head, making both their smiles fall as confusion makes its way through my body, "I don't know where it is. She has it well-hidden."

"Then we're lost," the Dark One states as Emma, Katherine, and I exchange a worried look before looking back to the father and son duo.

"No. There is something here of use. The one thing she's afraid of. You learning her darkest secret. The reason she gave you up," Gideon states with a determined look on his face as he places a hand on his father's shoulder. As soon as the brunette finishes speaking, a small pile of snow appears near the lake with a bassinet sitting on top of it. After staring at it for a long moment, Rumplestilskin slowly makes his way towards the basket as the rest of us follow behind him before we come to a stop a few feet away from it as Gideon continues speaking. "You've searched everywhere for a way to defeat her, but I think all your answers are right here...inside you. You just have to be willing to face them."

After letting out a sigh, the Dark One reaches down and takes the yellow baby blanket into his hands before he just stares at it with a hint of irritation on his eyes. As his grip tightens around the knitted material, my eyes barely catch Katherine tensing up at my side before taking a step closer to me. My attention stays on her concerned face for a moment before it travels back to Rumplestilskin as my brain tries to wrap around a reason for my redheaded friend's reaction.