Her smile was very infectious. As was her attitude. It was as if she was trying to stay positive, focused on creating a better life while constantly reminding herself that she's had amends to make.

Sipping his morning coffee at Granny's Victor had a good chance to finally study the woman who saved his live a mare days before. She was tall and rather slender but her body was in a very good shape – he presumed from all the running she had to do as her inner wolf was calling for physical activities. Long dark hair, wide smile and very expressive features.

And she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Well, not exactly the weight of the world but the memory of "…eating her boyfriend", that's how she's put it when they shared a moment in the docks. Something as tragic as this made her label herself a monster and start some kind of a redemption road, at least that's how Victor could see it from his place, judging by her actions and words.

The days after his breakdown Victor's done a lot of thinking. And one of the things that bothered him the most was: why did he and Ruby were the only ones that considered themselves monsters when the others around then (the whole Storybrooke save for some innocents) have done even worse things…much worse things! And in unlike Ruby or himself…did them deliberately. People like Regina, Rumpelstiltskin… yet he and the werewolf girl seemed to be the only ones to punish themselves for their doings.

"Hey!"

Victor was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he missed how Rube bid good-bye to David (or the Prince…or Charming, he wasn't sure how to refere to anyone these days) and came up behind the counter with their empty mugs.

"Well, you seem to be de-e-ep in thought." She stressed multiple "e" as she looked at him curiously.

"Yeah, something like that." Victor chuckled.

"How have you been? I haven't seen you since that day in the hospital…"

Victor looked up. Her voice was soft and sincere and truth be told he hasn't had those undertones being directed at her for such a long time that at first he wasn't sure how to react.

Ruby was looking at him, waiting for answer. Like she was really interested…

"Fine." He finally nodded. "Better. Thank you for that…again. And thank you for asking."

She just smiled and started cleaning the inside of the counter sending a gaze at his cup on the way.

"I hope this isn't your whole breakfast." Ruby looked at him genuinely frustrated.

"I have a shift in the hospital…don't really have time." He answered simply.

"…even for the famous apple pie?" She asked slyly and her eyes dared at the sliced pie further on the counter.

Victor chuckled again at her playfulness but stood up:

"I'd love to but The Hippocratic Oath is calling."

"Hey, I'll stop by the hospital today to pick Belle, she's being discharged today. I can get you that pie, bet you'd be much hungrier by then." She said as she picked his cup to get it to the sink.

"Really?" It was uncommon but it felt very nice, something Victor couldn't ignore. It seemed that Ruby was one of those people, she was kind and considerate to people she considered friends…and somehow he wasn't sure why but it seemed that she started thinking about him as one as well.

"Sure." She just nodded and busied herself with the dishes.

"Thanks. The hospital food isn't really a French restaurant."

Ruby grinned and Victor turned to the exit catching Granny's analyzing gaze on the way who was observing the scene from one of the corners. He just nodded his respects and without trying to interpret the older woman's penetrating eyes disappeared behind the door.