Disclaimer: I neither own nor profit from these characters/ stories.


Ruby hoisted another box onto the front desk. Not even eight in the morning, she grumbled to herself, and she was already busy. As the only hotel in town, she and Granny had been doing steady business in the weeks since the curse had been broken. People drifted in and out, dealing with the tatters of two lives. Mostly they cycled through quickly – children leaving parents, lovers searching for each other – and Ruby was glad when they left. She wanted the town to be able to continue, wanted the townspeople to find somewhere to belong and someone to belong with. There were a few that had stayed longer – like Tom Clark, who had come, annoyed and confused that he had recently decided to give up his apartment above the pharmacy and move in six other men. The ones that stayed weighed on Ruby, painful reminders that not all happy endings had yet returned.

She ducked beneath the tall counter with a sigh, reaching for a box of papers at the back of the bottom shelf. At least she and Granny were here, together, and had plenty to do. The little bell above the door tinkled merrily. "Just a moment!" Ruby called from under the desk, her fingers just brushing the box. It was probably one of Tom's brothers – they were always checking in on him. She finally got hold of the box and pulled it toward her. "Sorry about that," she said as she stood, then stiffened suddenly. Her nose knew half a second before her eyes who the visitor was; it was something she was still getting used to.

Mr. Gold stood on the other side of the counter, his hands braced on his cane. He fixed an amused half-smile at her. "It's nearly breakfast, dearie. Won't the diner be missing you?"

"Granny had to run over to the hardware store. I'm covering." Ruby straightened, setting the box on the counter. "What do you want, Gold?" she said in a level a guess, she added, "She's not here now."

"You are a curiously bold young woman, Miss Lucas. Not many people would work so hard to protect someone they've only just met." The answer surprised her, but she allowed him to continue. He took a step toward the counter. "But it's entirely unnecessary. I just wanted to leave this." He reached into his coat and placed a small wrapped box on the desk in front of her.

She eyed him wearily, not touching the box. "She said she didn't want to see you right now, you know."

"Which is why, dearie," he said liltingly, "I am leaving it at the front desk." He looked around, as if to contemplate the lobby, but she suspected the nonchalant gesture was anything but. "Has… anyone else been by for her?"

"If you mean her father, then no. No one's going to bother her here." Her last words had a hint of edge. She met his eyes, unafraid. He might have his magic back, he might even still be their landlord – Ruby was actually unclear on that last point – but he was right. Ruby felt a fierce loyalty to Belle, and she was going to protect her. She didn't know all of what the girl had been through, in their past lives, but she knew enough to know that Belle deserved the chance to be left alone now, to make her own way if that was what she wanted.

Rumpel held her eyes a cool moment. "No, I suppose not. I don't worry about her staying here." He whirled abruptly on his good leg and started for the door. "You don't need to mention that I was here," he said over his shoulder.

"Wait." He paused with is hand on the door, turning back to look at her. Ruby stepped around from behind the desk. Belle was a new friend, certainly, but she had seen Gold – Rumpel – she had seen this man desperately searching for her and looking more vulnerable and human than she had thought possible. Charming had trusted him and, at one time, so had Belle. Ruby would always err on the side of trusting her friends. "I wasn't lying," she said, casually giving the box on the counter a shake. Something within danced around with a small metallic sound. "She's out for a walk now, and after that she'll be by Granny's for breakfast. I'll give it to her then." She looked up to catch his eye.

He gave a slight nod, the same sort of queer expression on his face that she had seen when she had showed him sweater in the diner. "Thank you." Then the bell tinkled again and he was gone.