"But they'll kill you!"

"Isn't that what I deserve?"

Their voices echoed around the library, where half the books lay in unopened boxes. Belle suddenly realised she'd been clutching a copy of War and Peace so tightly to her chest her wrists had started to ache. Slowly, she let it fall to her side.

Ruby stared at her with large eyes. Maybe there was something monstrous in them after all, something dark and desirous. They seemed to follow her every move as she placed the book on the dusty shelf.

"No," Belle said suddenly, "that's not what you deserve, Ruby."

The tall girl's shoulders drooped in something like resignation, her eyes welling with tears. Belle rushed to comfort her, sliding her arms around her shoulders and pulling her close. She closed her eyes for just a moment, feeling suddenly at ease. They fit so well together, their bodies interlocking, Belle's head on Ruby's shoulder. It felt right.

"It's been a long time since I've had anyone to talk to," Belle said, "as a friend, I mean."

She almost pulled away then, but Ruby only clung to her tighter.

"I don't know what to do. But… despite everything, I'm glad I have you," Ruby whispered into her hair, "I killed someone last night, Belle. I'm not a good person. There's a… a darkness in me. I can't control it. It controls me and I don't know what to do."

She was beginning to shake again, and Belle pulled away, placing her hands carefully on Ruby's shoulders.

"If there's one thing I'm accustomed to, it's darkness. Darkness can always be overcome," Belle said, her eyes poring into Ruby's.

"I know you're a good person. When I first arrived here, no one would even look at me twice because I was new, strange, different. It didn't help once people realised about Rumpelstiltskin and I. I was… an outcast," she realised she had been stroking Ruby's shoulder, and she falteringly moved her hands to her lap.

Ruby watched Belle look downwards, a soft motion she'd become quite used to. Belle wasn't confident, all those years alone in the mental institution had left her withdrawn.

"But you… you saw me straight away. You gave me iced tea and pancakes," Belle laughed, and Ruby felt herself do the same.

"You welcomed me. And that means more to me than you could ever know," she finished, looking upwards once more, "you have a caring spirit. You have this… light. I've only seen it once before."

Ruby's smile faltered. Mr Gold. She noticed the way Belle's face lit up at the thought of him. Is he really her true love? She wondered.

"No offense, I find it really hard to believe Rumpelstiltskin has a light or… a caring spirit," Ruby tried not to sound too cutting, but she saw the flash of indignation in the other girl's eyes. It was gone as soon as it had come. Ruby admired Belle's patience more than any other strength she had.

"Don't you see? He's not a monster. No more than you are a monster," she paused, biting her bottom lip.

"I think… everyone has a certain amount of good and evil within them, it all comes down to choice." She brushed some strands of hair away from Ruby's eyes, a tender motion that left Ruby momentarily breathless.

"And you… your choice was taken away from you. This beast is just a part of you… but it isn't you. There's so much more…"

Ruby paused, feeling the silence sink in. Belle really did have the bluest eyes she had ever seen. They reminded Ruby of happier times in her land, where the summer brought out the bluest hue in the sky.

"But beauty doesn't belong beside a beast, Belle."

She saw the girl shake her head in confusion, "what?"

"I… I can't put you in danger like this. I can't ask you to help me," Ruby took a deep breath and turned away, fighting back tears.

"No matter what you want to believe, Rumpelstiltskin consistently makes the wrong choices. I don't even have that freedom, that choice. I'm erratic, uncontrollable… unpredictable." She heard her voice waver as the words spilled out.

Ruby shoved past the boxes Belle had scattered across the floor, heading for the door without looking back.

"No, wait. Ruby. Wait!"

"Belle. Stay out of this, please. I shouldn't have come. I only have a few hours before sundown. I know what I have to do."

Belle frowned at that, hearing the growl in her friend's voice. It was guttural, tinged with a warning. She did not follow her.


Ruby felt her anger grow, rushing like blood in her veins. The sides of her vision were tinged with red, her eyes started to ache. She felt the hair on her arms raise with anticipation, she could feel everything – from the slight breeze in the air to the way the long grass tickled her calves and sent tingles up her legs. She could hear Henry Mills' giggles as he read to himself by a crackling fire. She heard Prince Charming barking orders to the townspeople gathered at the Sheriff's station, telling them to be calm. No one was telling Ruby to be calm. She tried to picture Belle's eyes again, the calm depths peering into her own. She recalled the girl's soft touch to her shoulder, and the way she smelled of old books and cinnamon.

It was no use. She was running out of time. She needed to hurry.

Ruby's nose suddenly crinkled and she let out a loud sneeze. Cologne?

"Well, well, well," she heard a deep voice drawl. She whirled around, peering into the shadows.

"My, what big eyes you have," Rumpelstiltskin said, a lackadaisical smile at his lips. He sauntered toward her, relying on his cane for support.

"Get out of my way, Rumpelstiltskin," she growled, clenching her fists, "I have to end this."

He chuckled at that, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, "oh, and how do you intend to do that, dearie?"

She started to walk quickly, leaving him behind her. She heard him follow, waiting for an answer, but she figured it wouldn't be long before he tired.

Ruby sighed, "I'm taking myself across the border. I'll be cursed again. All of this… will go away."

"Before sundown?" Rumpelstiltskin eyed his watch, "good luck with that."

She bristled in frustration. She would not cry. Not now. Not in front of him.

"I could help you, you know," he continued. Ruby turned to face him. They were roughly the same height; he couldn't intimidate her that way.

"Lemme guess," she spat, "for a price?"

He cocked his head to the side, "you know how it works."

She paused, considering. She eyed his untrustworthy half smile, noticing the way his eyes glinted dangerously in the fading sunlight. She didn't understand what Belle saw in him, she really didn't. The man… the creature before her had no light in him at all.

"Why do you act like this?"

Her question seemed to surprise him.

"I saw you… just yesterday, in the diner with Belle. You're so different around her. Is that just for show? Is she just another pawn in one of your little games?" Ruby bristled again; picturing the thousand different ways he could hurt Belle. She worried she was too gullible, too trusting. Too loving.

"You don't deserve her," she spluttered.

Rumpelstiltskin seemed none too eager to answer, but he stared into her eyes long enough for her to look away. It was as if he recognised something in her concern for Belle, something Ruby would not care to admit.

Thankfully, he didn't press the issue.

"So, dearie, yes or no?"

"What would you propose?" She tried to look authoritative; she straightened her posture and folded her arms across her chest. She only succeeded in amusing him. Everything amused Rumpelstiltskin.

"I may be able to conjure something of yours. Something that I believe will help you with your little curse."

"Something of mine?" Ruby blinked, "my cloak?"

Rumpelstiltskin grinned, "it's worked before… there's a good possibility it will work in Storybrooke."

"But… magic is different here," Ruby continued, "I'll only consider our deal sealed if you hold up your end of the bargain. Only if this works."

"Oh, trust me dearie. It will." Rumpelstiltskin grinned once more before flicking his wrist, a cloud of purple smoke enveloping his hand. Ruby jumped back in fear, closing her eyes, but upon opening them, a red garment lay in his arms.

Ruby couldn't help but smile, a wolf-like grin spreading across her face. She reached out to caress the soft fabric.

"It's just as I remembered," she breathed.

Rumpelstiltskin pulled the cloak away, and their eyes met once more. She was startled at the sudden intensity of the stare.

"One more thing," he said quietly.

Her eyes narrowed, "what?"

"You should stay away from Belle."

She didn't answer, but didn't take her eyes off him as she yanked the cloak back.

"Thank you," she said coldly, tossing it around her shoulders and pulling up the hood.

Rumpelstiltskin looked above her at the sky, where the clouds obscured the moon, and back at his watch.

"You've got about a minute, dearie." He grinned almost excitedly, and leant lazily on his cane, staring at her, as if waiting for something to happen.

Ruby turned away and stared at the moon. She closed her eyes, breathing steadily. Calming herself. She thought of Belle and her blue, blue eyes. Old books and cinnamon. Pancakes and iced tea. She smiled.

No.

Something was terribly wrong. She could feel the energy surging through her, she saw her body change before her eyes, she felt the low, guttural roar start in her throat and a howl that seemed to echo through the whole world before pounding back in her ears. Ruby felt the anger and power rise within her as she changed into the wolf.

She opened her eyes.


I hope to write another few chapters of this, I promise we'll get to some Red Beauty and Rumbelle fluff next chapter! If you review I'll love you forever and pay you in hamburgers and such :3