A Unique Way of Speaking

Once Upon A Time

Regina/Ruby (Red Queen)

Rated PG (a few swear words)

Summary: Ruby uses her words to try and woo the Evil Queen.

Disclaimers: All rights to these characters (well this particular version of these characters) belong to ABC et. Al. This is solely for entertainment (I hope)

A/N 1: There is mention of the Cricket Game and the Outsiders (kind of spoilers) but Cora and Hook will not make an appearance or be an issue as I just wanted a story bringing Ruby and Regina together.

A/N 2: The characters will most likely be a bit OOC for which I hope you'll forgive me.

A/N 3: I've read, tweaked, read, edited and tweaked some more checking for mistakes/errors. If I missed any, my apologies and please PM me to let me know if there's anything glaring I need to change.

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Regina found the first note stuck under her windshield wiper. At first, she assumed it was a parking ticket and seeing as how she was legally parked, she was fully prepared to storm the Sherriff's office and confront that simpering David Nolan about harassment and remind him that he was only acting Sheriff while Emma was off gallivanting in New York with her son. However, her fury vanished as she read the brief words on the paper.

"Ok, so I know this is kind of weird and probably a bit creepy , but I had to tell you that I saw you walking downtown earlier and couldn't help notice your reaction when you saw Travis Williams trying to walk his two new puppies . I have no doubt you're probably pitching a colossal fit knowing that someone witnessed the genuine smile on your face as you watched the pups play, but it was like an arrow to my heart. You have a really beautiful smile Regina…well when it's not a brutally sarcastic that is. Anyway, I know it's kind of rude to say so, but I also noticed you look like you haven't been sleeping much. It isn't hard to figure out why, but I really wish you'd take care of yourself.

Regina stared at the paper as if expecting it to blow up in her face. She turned the words over and over in her mind trying to make sense of what she'd just read. Finally she realized just what she was looking at and her jaw clenched angrily. She had no doubt this little…whatever it was, was nothing but a prank meant to humiliate her. She suspected it was most likely one of those damned dwarves or Whale wanting a little payback, but she'd be damned twenty times over if she gave them what they wanted. Her lips lifted in a sneer of repressed fury and she stared at the note until a bright angry flash disintegrated the piece of paper. Not bothering to look to see if anyone was watching, she got into her car, unaware of dark eyes watching her with a sad understanding.

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Regina discovered the second note two days later while reaching into her purse for her wallet at the grocery store. Her anger at the audacity of the writer was nearly surpassed however, by the shock of learning that someone had dared to encroach on her personal property and without her even noticing. Her purse hadn't been out of her site all morning and her only stop had been at the diner for a double espresso.

Gritting her teeth in frustration, she shoved the note back into her purse, paid for her groceries and headed to her car. Once she was buckled in, she pulled out the note only briefly wondering why she didn't just throw it in the trash, but as she began to read, she couldn't hold back a small gasp of surprise.

"Hi Regina. Yeah It's me again. So this is becoming pretty damned embarrassing but I can't seem to stop myself. The truth is I'm sort of worried about you. I saw you again today and even though you had that sexy as hell 'big bad 'Mayor's face on, I couldn't help but notice the tiredness and the sadness in your eyes and it kind of broke my heart. No, this isn't pity because I know you'd rather French kiss Leroy in front of the entire town before accepting anything close to pity I just... I saw what you did to my last note and was worried you'd think I was some pervy stalker or something. I'm not. Really. I'm just trying in my own cowardly way, to let you know that there is someone out here who worries about you.

PS this isn't Cora or Sydney either.

Regina read the little note several times, emotions swirling so rapidly she couldn't pinpoint any of them. A hopeful twinge of warmth battled violently with anger and she had no idea which was winning.

She re-read the note trying to find a clue as to who thought playing games with Regina Mills was a good idea. Based on the simple writing style, she instantly thought of Emma Swan, but then remembered bitterly that the blonde Sheriff had run off with her son and Gold. There was also the fact that Emma had told Regina in no uncertain terms, exactly what she thought about her and it wasn't as complimentary as what she was reading.

Her next thought was that perhaps it was Snow. The little mouse had proven she had a streak of cruelty when she gleefully told her Emma had taken Henry out of the state and didn't have to tell Regina a damned thing, but no. Snow was too busy announcing her goodness to the world to take time out to write a letter. Plus she was a teacher and would be appalled at the informal and grammatically questionable content.

Inexplicably Regina then considered Red 'Ruby' Lucas. They'd never passed more than the occasional stilted greeting at the diner, but Regina had heard her conversing with others often enough to notice the similarities between the note and the waitresses conversational style. Regina knew very little about the woman except she was Snow's best friend and she was a fierce werewolf that had once terrified their old land. Was she capable of playing such a cruel joke if she believed she was defending her friend? Regina sighed in aggravation. Hell, maybe it was Archie Hopper, or…

"Damnit," she muttered angrily, shoving the note back into her purse. She wouldn't let herself believe the words of comfort, no matter how earnest they appeared. She knew better than anyone just how painful hope could be.

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Regina nearly destroyed the third little note before she even saw it. She had stepped out of her house to pick up the newspaper and when she bent over to retrieve it, s he noticed the neatly folded white paper nearly under her foot. What caught her attention however was the blue rose resting beside of it. Her heart fluttered. It was the most beautiful rose she'd ever seen.

Grabbing the newspaper and her unexpected little gift, Regina went back inside. Tossing the paper carelessly on the sideboard table, Regina took the rose and the still unread note into her office and sat behind her desk.

She stared at the rose for a long moment. She knew enough about gardening to know that blue roses don't occur naturally. Someone actually had to take the time to find a white rose and then carefully dye it. Why?

Ignoring her first instinct to treat the rose and note with the same regard she gave the first one, she opened the note and her heart clenched painfully at the neatly scripted words.

Regina, I guess I should apologize. I think I sort of freaked you out with my first two notes, but I swear, it's not a joke or someone making fun of you. It's just me and me is too afraid to tell you these things in person. Not because you could turn me into a snail or something even grosser, but because you're damned intimidating. Not entirely in a bad way. It's just that you have this thing about you that overwhelms me whenever I see you and I can't seem to think straight.

God, I'm babbling like an idiot. Sorry. Anyway, if you haven't blown up the rose or this note yet, I wanted to try and explain. First, I wanted to make sure you know that I'm not playing games with you or anything. I know you have no reason to trust me, especially since you don't know who I am. Well I hope you don't that is. (I guess the fact I haven't been incinerated yet tells me you don't.) Anyway, I really do mean everything I said and what this rose represents. Which brings me to the second thing.

I picked the rose itself because it symbolizes beauty and ,sweet baby Jesus, anyone with eyes in their head and half a brain knows you have that, but beauty that hides an ugly heart has never been a turn on for me, no matter how smoking hot the person is. You though…we haven't really interacted much but I've taken time to study you, well as much as I can without looking like a freak, but I'm pretty sure you don't have an ugly heart and that is what fascinates me about you. No matter what I've heard or seen, your eyes tell me you're not even close to being evil. And that's the reason for the blue rose. According to what I've read, the blue rose is supposed to represent the mysterious and you are definitely that. They're also supposed to symbolize the desire for the unattainable and I am pretty sure that's you too.

Oh my God, I didn't mean to write this much. Look Regina, the thing is, you aren't exactly the most trusting person in the world and from what I've heard that's for good reason, so I know you're still thinking I'm trying to hurt you. I promise it's not. It's so much the opposite. Hell, it was a stupid I guess. I mean it sounded cool when I came up with the idea. I had a whole bunch of notes I was going to leave for you all over town, gradually letting you know how I feel and hoping it would make you smile. I also hoped you'd finally figure it out and maybe we could talk or something, but I'm fairly sure that would probably end badly for me so, if it helps, this will be the last one. If you did decide to read this, please believe that I'm sincere. You do have someone on your side. Someone who isn't simply trying to manipulate you or change you, and that cares about you bad attitude and all. Even if you don't know who it is and even if you'll never feel the same way.

Regina's lips lifted in a soft smile, which held a rare hint of tenderness as she reread the rambling letter and the clues all came together.

"Oh but I do know who you are Miss Lucas," she said softly to herself. Now the question became what to do about it.

Discovering that the highly popular waitress actually had feelings for her brought out an instinctual desire to use that information to her advantage and Regina was almost angry to realize that she couldn't bring herself to do it. If Ruby wasn't acting on a misplaced need to avenge the supposed wrong doings against Snow…if she truly meant the things she said…well Regina had absolutely no idea what to make of it. It had been so very long since someone had simply wanted to comfort her without wanting anything in return and in the privacy of her own mind, Regina had to admit that being the object of Ruby Lucas's intensely focused affections carried its own intriguing appeal.

Regina stood and walked over to the bar and poured herself a glass of wine and looked out of her window contemplating her suspected 'admirer.' She couldn't deny that Ruby was a very beautiful woman wrapped in an unashamedly sensual package. Regina suspected the perpetually under-dressed waitress wasn't as promiscuous as her wardrobe would indicate but was simply a woman who carried herself with the proud confidence that Regina had always respected, despite her insults to the contrary.

There was a wild sort of aura about Ruby that attracted Regina on a more than one level. To anyone who took the time to notice, Ruby had a blatant and powerful desire for freedom and a refusal to be restrained in any way and being chained to Storybrooke, that freedom had manifested itself in the only way open to her…. by not thinking twice about choosing outfits that showed off her spectacular body. A body Regina always took time to admire. Unfortunately, Ruby was also the trusted confidante to that insipid Snow White which made her motives that much more questionable.

Grunting softly in frustration, Regina decided to spend an hour on the treadmill, trying to determine how to proceed with Ruby Lucas and to forget that for one moment she felt cared for and she that she had actually liked the feeling.

Before she went to change clothes, she realized there was something she needed to do. She picked up the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

"Yes, it's Regina. If you have time this afternoon, I want…would like to schedule an appointment."

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