Ruby rubbed her hand across her face, thankful that this night had finally come to an end. Her eyes glanced at the clock on the wall as she slowly removed her apron. It was still early enough. Belle should have put their daughter down for bed by now and soon they would spend Christmas eve alone together as planned.

The bell over the door sounded bringing Ruby's attention back to it. She smiled at the tiny dark haired child running toward her, dragging her stuffed dragon along side her. "Auntie Ruby!" she shouted, picking up her pace.

Ruby took a few steps closer, bending down to catch the child as she jumped into her waiting arms. "Eva, what are you doing here so late?"

The child leaned back causing Ruby to tighten her grip so she wouldn't topple backwards. She pointed her dragon toward the door. "Mommy said we could stop by and see you before Santa came."

Emma walked inside the dinner lugging a few bags. "Eva, I told you to wait for me." she stated, exasperated. She shook her head, releasing a small sigh as she dropped her packages on the nearest table. "Hey."

Ruby chuckled lightly and walked toward her. "What's all this?" she inquired, giving Eva a kiss on the cheek before placing her back down.

Emma glanced down at her daughter with a smile. "This little monster wants to bake cookies for the party tomorrow." She laughed when her daughter shot her an adorable glare. "What's that look for?"

"I'm not a monster, mommy!" She swayed back and forth, her eyes focused on the dragon as she tugged on it's tail. "I'm a Princess."

Ruby released a quick laugh and Emma rolled her eyes. "Oh, excuse me, your highness." she teased, ruffling her daughter's dark hair. She returned her attention to Ruby. "I thought we were going to miss you. Shouldn't you be heading home?"

Ruby glanced at the clock on the wall once again. "Yeah, actually, I was just about to get out of here." She removed her apron and tossed it over her shoulder. "Belle should have put Ariel down-"

"I wanna see Ariel!" Eva shrieked, interrupting her Auntie. She tugged on Ruby's shirt. "Auntie Ruby, can I see Ariel?"

Ruby knealt down to look into Eva's bright green eyes. It was the one feature that Emma had claim to. "Sweetheart, she's in bed right now." She cupped her chin, smiling warmly at her. "You'll see her tomorrow."

Eva's pout broadened. "But, I wanna show her my dragon." She held up the stuffed toy and pushed it closer to Ruby.

Ruby chuckled lightly, giving the dragon's snout a small squeeze. "And I'm sure she'd love to see it, but she's sleeping..."

"And you should be too." Emma added, stroking her daughters hair. "Or Santa will totally skip our house because he won't be able to surprise you."

Eva released a small little gasp. She reached up, grabbing her mother's hand and pulled. "We gotta go now, mommy! Come on! You and Mama hafta tuck me in!" She tugged harder. "Bye, Auntie Ruby! See you tomorrow!"

Emma felt herself stumble forward, surprised by the strength of her child. "Okay, okay. I'm coming." She reached out and grabbed the bags from the table. She motioned her chin toward Ruby. "Don't be late tomorrow."

Ruby smiled. "We won't." She gave them a short wave as they walked out of the door...


"Belle?" Ruby called out as she walked further into their home. "Belle! I'm home!"

"Shhhhh!" Belle ordered, rushing into the living room to greet her wife. "You'll wake Ariel." She sighed, running her hand through her hair. "You don't even know what I've been through trying to get your daughter to go to sleep."

"My daughter?" Ruby smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Why is it when she's being difficult she's my daughter?"

Belle furrowed her brow. "Is that a rhetorical question?"

Ruby narrowed her eyes. She stepped toward her wife and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Someone has been having too many play dates with Regina. Her sass is rubbing off on you." She leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. She pulled back slowly and smiled. "And hi, by the way."

Belle chuckled softly. "Hi.." She placed her hand on the side of Ruby's face. "I'm sorry. It's just.. Ariel has been non stop all day. It took forever to just get her to lay down.. and then I had to put the presents from Santa under the tree and she got up again to ask me about twenty questions within two minutes..." She exhaled heavily trying to regain control of her sanity. "She has a ridiculous amount of curiosity."

"I wonder where she gets that from." Ruby teased, receiving the same glare she had given Belle only a few moments ago. She smiled broadly at the look and pulled Belle impossibly closer. "Listen, she's asleep now so why don't we go upstairs and spend a quiet, child free Christmas eve together."

A small smile slowly made it's way onto Belle's lips. "That sounds wonderful." She slid her arms around Ruby's shoulders, her fingers gently stroked the back of her loves neck.

"And, you know.." Ruby leaned down, place a small kiss to Belle's neck. "We don't have to go to sleep anytime soon." Her lips trailed a small line upward.

Belle's eyes closed instantly at the contact. Her fingers gripped Ruby's dark hair tightly. "What did you have in mind then?" she teased, taking in a sharp breath when Ruby's teeth nicked her ear.

Ruby leaned back to look into her eyes. "Oh, I don't know." She grinned. "Maybe we could just start off like this and see where it leads.." She slowly moved closer, her lips hovering close to Belle's.

"Mommy, you're home!" Ariel screeched, hurrying down the last set of steps, dragging her blanket behind her.

Ruby's attention quickly turned toward her daughter who was bounding toward her. "Ariel, honey, what are you doing out of bed?" she questioned, catching her daughter in her arms and lifting her into a hug.

"I was just about to ask the same question." Belle added, regaining her composure and crossing her arms against her chest. "Sweetheart, you are supposed to be asleep."

"I know, but I heard Mommy's voice and I was happy she was home cause now she won't miss Santa." Ariel's eyes focused on Ruby's collar as she tugged gently on it. "Mommy, Santa is gonna bring me a bike for Christmas, right?"

Ruby smiled as she watched her daughter. "I don't know, sweetie." She raised her hand, running her fingers through the mess of auburn hair. "And you won't know either if you stay awake. Santa only comes when you're asleep." She tried to catch her daughters attention which was focused on the material of her mother's shirt. "Do you understand?"

Ariel nodded. "Yes, mommy."

Belle took a step closer, resting her hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Then we should get you back to bed." she suggested with a smile as she reached up and stroked her daughter's hair.

Ariel nodded again. "Otay, mama."

Ruby turned to face her wife. "I'll take her." She leaned in and placed a small kiss on her waiting lips. "Why don't you go get ready for.. um.." She grinned and tossed her a wink. "...bed."

"Don't be long." She gave Ruby a kiss then Ariel. She cupped her daughter's cheek and smiled adoringly at her. "Sleep well, Angel. I love you."

"Love you, mama."


Ruby walked into the bedroom about twenty minutes later wearing an exasperated expression. "Man, our kid can talk." she sighed, removing her shoes. She turned to face her wife. "She was going on and on about-" Her words caught abruptly in her throat at the sight waiting for her on the bed.

Belle was lying there, her back against the headboard, wearing a dark blue teddie. Her attention was focused on the book she had started reading. Her leg was bent, revealing more of her perfect, smooth skin. Ruby had every urge to rush to her and touch every inch of it.

"I told you she was being difficult." Belle reminded, her eyes focused on the pages. She smirked as she turned the page. "Like mother like daughter."

Belle shrieked as her body was tugged forward, the book flying out of her hand. Before she knew it, Ruby was hovering over her with a wolfish grin. "How about..." she began as leaned down and brushed her lips lightly against Belle's. "...I make the rest of your night really easy?"

"That sounds wonderful." Belle replied, wrapping her arms around Ruby's neck.

Ruby's grin spread as she leaned in closer, her lips barely touched Belle's when...

"Mommy, mama.. how will Santa find the house?"

"You've got to be kidding me." Ruby groaned, burying her face in the pillow. Belle chuckled lightly as she patted Ruby's back signaling for her to move. The waitress rolled off her wife, her arm instantly covering her eyes as the pitter patter of tiny feet across the wood floor came closer. "Santa will find us, Ariel, I promise."

"But how mommy?" Ariel placed her hands on the mattress. "How will he know where we live? Is he gonna stay for breafast?" She pushed her hands into the mattress, grabbing the sheets as she attempted to pull herself onto the bed. She released a tiny grunt before raising her arms to Belle. "Mama, help."

Belle couldn't help but smile as she sat up and helped her daughter onto the bed. She held her in her arms as she looked into her tiny bright blue eyes. "I'm guessing the only way you'll sleep is if you sleep here. Is that correct?"

Ariel smiled at her. It was Ruby's smile. Big and bright. "Can I, Mama?"

"May I." Belle corrected, touching the tip of her daughter's nose. She turned to Ruby. "Is that okay with you, mommy?" she asked, the laugher lacing her voice as she heard Ruby growl.

"She's like a tiny little chastity belt sometimes." Ruby mumbled, receiving a small smack from Belle.

"Wassa chassy belt?" Ariel inquired, scrunching her brow in question.

"It's nothing, sweetheart." Belle informed her quickly as Ruby propped herself up on her elbows and grinned. She shot Ruby a look. "Mommy is just being sassy."

"Ohhh.." Ariel turned to Ruby and flashed the same adorable smile. "So may I, mommy?"

Ruby felt her resolve weaken and she sighed. "Of course, baby."

Ariel released a happy squeal before jumping from Belle's lap and snuggling between her parents. "G'night, mommy. G'night, mama. I love you."

"We love you too, sweetheart." Belle whispered, placing a small kiss on her daughter's forehead.

Ruby kissed the side of her temple. "Merry Christmas, baby girl." she added as Ariel snuggled closely into their warmth and drifted off to sleep. She brushed her daughter's hair from her face and smiled softly.

Belle leaned over their daughter and pressed a small kiss to Ruby's lips. "Completely your child." she teased as Ruby laughed lightly.

Ruby reached out and ran her fingers through Belle's soft brown hair. "Our child." she corrected as Belle returned her smile and kissed her once again...