6 MONTHS EARLIE

Ruby Lucas hummed, her head bouncing up and down to the music flowing in one ear as she finished washing the dishes. When the bell above the door chimed, she glanced at her watch. It was after midnight. "Sorry, we're closed."

"Just a quick coffee to go, please." She froze at the order. She knew she should stand her ground but she simply couldn't. She turned around and faced Mr. Gold.

"To go?" He nodded. "A regular coffee?"

"With cream, if it's not too much."

She grabbed the stack of paper cups and pulled one out of the stack. As if on queue, thunder and lightening echoed outside. Gold turned to the window, Ruby jumped and the paper cups landed on the floor, rolling all over. "Sh-" Ruby bent, picking up the cups that were scattered around her. When she stood up, Gold was standing close to her, a stack of cups in his hand.

"I believe these are yours." She wanted to thank him, but felt that he wasn't a 'thank you' kind of man.

She went back to the coffee. "It's really coming down out there." She glanced at Gold, who, stood, hands clasped behind his back, looking at her. She sighed. She placed the paper cups back on the counter, grabbed a ceramic one instead and poured the coffee. "You're here now, you might as well stay until the rain stops." She opened the fridge door, took out a milk jug and handed it to him smiling.

"Thank you." He threw his jacket over the back of the stool and sat down.

"Ruby." Ruby turned to the kitchen, where Clark, the chef was poking his head out of the window. "I'm out. Don't stay too late and, uh..." She noticed him glancing at Gold who was sipping slowly at his coffee watching the exchange. "Take care of yourself."

"Goodnight, Clark." Ruby went back to the dishes. She knows that when she gets home, she'll get the interrogation from Granny; her secrets didn't stay secret so long once Granny got her claws into them. She didn't understand what the big deal was. Maybe Gold was a little shrewd and underhand but it's how he survived, it was in his nature. Like it was in her nature to argue with Granny about restrictions. She frowned. She know that Granny would be discussing this tomorrow but she wasn't sure why it would surprise Granny that she was nice to Gold. Hell, she wasn't even sure why his appearance shocked her anymore. He came in here often enough at this hour. She had previously put it down to working late, or trying to be difficult. Maybe he just didn't want to be around the people. She could understand that. Her best friends were a school teacher and a pregnant nineteen year old. This town lacked a certain something for her. Something Granny didn't understand. Something no one in this town seemed to understand. So maybe this town needs a bit of a shakeup.

"Can I get you anything else?" She walked over to him.

"No, thank you. I better be off." She couldn't be sure but she almost thought she saw a gleam of sadness in his eyes. Maybe he was more human than people around here gave him credit for.

Ruby went about her work. She tried to pretend that he wasn't there; under no circumstance could she let her guard down. Not while Granny was hovering. Her liberation came from a clatter in the kitchen; when Granny went to inspect and asked Ruby to 'keep an eye on him', how could she possibly refuse? She went up to the counter. "Can I get you anything while you wait?"

"No, thank you."

"It should be ready in a minute."

Mary Margaret Blanchard walked in, smiling. "Hi Ruby. Is it all right if I hang one of these up and hand some out.?"

"Sure." She took a flyer and scoffed. "The school fundraiser. What is it this year?"

"A masquerade ball. The Enchanted Forest."

"That's a bit of an overdone theme, wouldn't you say?" Gold turned to join in the conversation.

Mary Margaret stared at Ruby, then looked over to Gold. "Oh, the kids decided on it. Actually, it was Henry Mills' idea."

"Well, I wonder where he'd get an idea like that."

Mary Margaret turned her attention back to Ruby. "You're coming, right?"

"What? God no. That's my birthday and I have big plans. If I can get Granny to loosen to lease." Her head spun to the kitchen as she heard her name called. As she walked past, she glanced at Gold, whose attention was completely on the paper he was reading. She grabbed the bag and walked back over to the counter. "Here's your lunch, Mr. Gold."

"Thank you." He dug into his pockets for cash.

Ruby still couldn't believe that her Granny had roped her into helping out with the Masquerade Ball. Especially on her birthday. Now all she had to look forward to was a shift at the diner followed by a fundraiser. She lay on the couch, magazine in her hand, when the doorbell rang. "Just a second." She threw the magazine on the table and muted the TV, as she stood up. She hurried to the door and pulled it open to be greeted by...

No one. There was no one on the porch. It was completely empty, except for a black box on the railing. She grabbed it and sat on the swing seat.

She pulled at the silver ribbon, which came apart easily, and pulled the top off the box. She pulled back the tissue paper and gasped. She pulled out the lace and silk white dress and the red silk and velvet cloak that accompanied it. She wrapped the cloak around her and, despite herself, did a twirl. She rattled around the box for a sign of who had sent the box but there was no card. She carried the box inside.

"Ruby?" Mary Margaret met Ruby by the refreshments table. "You look fantastic."

"Thank you."

"Happy Birthday. Wow, you really put a lot of effort in to this." She took a hold of the sleeve of the cloak. "I thought you weren't going to dress up at all. Where did you get this?"

"I just... found it at home."

"Well, I'm not the only one who thinks you look fantastic." Mary Margaret pointed a finger. Ruby followed her gaze to the side entrance where a man stood staring at her. He began to walk towards them. He was dressed in black save for the blue and gold jacket he wore and the black velvet mask he wore covered most of his face. "May I?" His voice was muffled by his mask and Ruby could not identify him.

Tentatively, Ruby took his held out hand. They danced. She wasn't a very experienced dancer but that didn't seem to matter, her partner seemed experienced enough for both of them. She felt comfortable dancing with him that she continued to dance for 6 more songs. Finally, when she was out of breath and her face was flushed and sweaty, she was led outside by her mystery man. "I have never danced like that. Ever."

And then he kissed her. It didn't stir the passion or the arousal that she was used to from previous partners. Her feelings weren't sexual, they were somewhere else. If she wanted to be really cheesy she would say that the feelings were in her heart. He led her to the school wall. They sat side by side and kissed. Until Ruby heard her Granny calling her.

"I'll be right there." She went back to her mystery man. "Who are you?"

"I need to tell you something." He spoke low, masking his voice even more. "You have a wonderful, free spirit and I would love to give you the freedom you deserve, but I can't, not yet. What I can give you is the love that you deserve. Even if you don't know it. Happy Birthday." He kissed her one more time, and walked away.