A/N: Hope you guys like it! Inspired by the crazy weather where I live.
The storm came upon the town all of a sudden, with not so much of a sprinkle of a warning. The black clouds formed a wall, enclosing Storybrooke on all sides. Sheets of rain hurtled downward, drenching the roads in seconds, making travel impossible. Within minutes, sirens sounded and warnings were issued. Citizens scrambled, lugging keepsakes, treasures, pets, and children to the local school-turned-shelter.
Ruby giggled as she wrung her hair out from the rain. She followed Granny up to the check-in table. The kind-voiced nun handed them a pack of blankets and toiletries.
"Room 118 is open for another family, as long as you're not adverse to dogs," the nun said with a smile.
Granny took one look at Ruby who was shaking the remaining water from her hair.
"I think we'll fit right in."
Room 118 was at the end of a long hall, and they could hear the barking echoing all the way down.
"Hush, Pongo! Hush! Pongo, sit!"
Ruby smiled before Granny even opened the door; she knew that voice of consternation anywhere.
Archie's glasses were knocked half off his face by Pongo's tail as the Dalmatian rushed to greet the two women.
"Hey, boy!" Ruby bent to scratch Pongo's ears and squealed with surprise as he jumped up to lick her face.
"Pongo!" Archie scolded, grabbing him by the collar.
"He's fine," Ruby reassured. "And hello to you to, Archie."
"Hi, Ruby," he said, gaining enough control over Pongo to properly take in Ruby's disheveled appearance. His awed expression and audible intake of breath gave him enough pause to lose his grip on his beloved pet and fall flat on his back when Pongo burst forth to scramble back to Ruby.
Granny smiled down at Archie. "Sure, just forget about me."
"Sorry, Mrs. Lucas," he said as he sat up and rubbed the back of his head.
Granny shot him a stern look. "How many times do I have to tell you, Archie? We've known each other too well for too long for you to call me that. Call me Granny."
Archie merely flushed.
"Uh-oh," came Ruby's voice playfully from the opposite side of the room. "Looks like Pongo sniffed out my treats!" She laughed as she gently pushed the dog's nose from her backpack and dug the box vanilla wafers out. "Smart boy," she crooned, "you know I always have cookies for you."
Archie had long ago given up the argument that the wafers were bad for Pongo's health. Watching Pongo dance for the treats always brought a smile to Ruby's face that he couldn't bring himself to deny her. Plus, Pongo always seemed more agreeable after his belly was full.
After Pongo had eaten his fill of vanilla wafers and Granny set off in attempt to aid the struggle in the kitchens to make food for the town, Archie and Ruby laughed and talked cross-legged on the floor until the wee hours of the night.
Ruby's eyes fluttered more and more and her laughter grew lighter until Archie finally remarked, "You need to go to bed, Ru."
Smiling vaguely at his rare use of her nickname, then at his stifling a yawn, she said, "You do too."
He nodded in agreement and began to search in his nun-issued parcel for bedthings and found only a pillow.
"I can't find my blanket," he mumbled.
"Pongo did," Ruby said thickly, nodding her head to the corner of the room. There Pongo lay, sure enough, curled up in Archie's blanket. Archie made to approach him and yank the blanket from beneath his beloved pet but was met with growls and bared teeth.
"Don't," Ruby's voice came muffled by her pillow. She was already curled on the floor, under her blanket. "Just share mine."
Archie felt the flush burning his skin red. He knew that if he wasn't fatigued to the point of delirium he would never have joined her under the rather small blanket. However, the sound of the storm raging outside, the chill of the classroom, and Ruby's sleepy half-smile all persuaded him to lie next to her under the warm blanket.
"I've always loved the rain," she mumbled deliriously as she snuggled closer to him.
"Yeah…" he chuckled softly. "I'm beginning to grow fond of it too."
A/N: Let me know what you think! Please review. It takes two seconds and leaves me happy for so much longer.