A/N: All right, so...this is what happened with this. I was up late, watching Belle push everyone away, including Rumpel. Well, I think Ruby could be Belle's new best friend.

No One Decides But Me

"Look, I'm not the person you should be asking this to," Ruby admitted to Belle as they sat in the bar. Ruby had dragged her all the way out here to have some fun, but so far, it wasn't working.

The girl knew there was something on Belle's mind, and she thought it was either Rumpelstiltskin or...well, Rumpelstiltskin. There really wasn't any other option at this point.

"I don't even understand how you could be with him," Ruby told her. Belle sighed, staring at the water glass, not even bothering to drink at all.

"It's just...I don't know what to do," Belle said. "I haven't many friends here. In fact, I've lived pretty sheltered..."

"Yeah, what exactly do you mean by that?" Ruby asked, setting her drink down and sitting on the bar stool next to her, brushing back the red stripe in her hair.

"Well, for 28 years, I was um...I was locked away."

"Where?" Ruby's eyes were now full of contempt.

"The asylum, below the hospital..." Belle confided, as she whispered it to Ruby.

"Oh that's awful!" Red exclaimed. "I shouldn't have brought you here. Come on."

She took Belle's hand, feeling like a bad influence to Belle.

"Wait, where are we going?"

Ruby took her out of the bar and they walked together along the streets of Storybrooke.

"You're not crazy," Ruby told Belle, and the girl merely nodded, saying she knew that when the curse was broken. Ruby asked for more detail and all Belle could say was the Regina hid her from Rumpelstiltskin, probably for some kind of dealing at some point or another.

As Ruby listened, she felt a little more sorrow now for Rumpelstiltskin. She knew Regina was bad, but she always thought Rumpel was worse. Now she wasn't so sure. Unlike Regina, Rumpel didn't take hearts from people's chests and keep them for himself.

"So, I just-I don't know what to do," Belle sighed, stopping because her legs were getting tired. Ruby sat with her on a bench.

"Well, if it were me...I've had enough of my family," Ruby said. "I'd want my own life, with someone I love. Now you, can give your true love a second chance."

"How would you know if he was my true love or not?" Belle asked. Ruby gave her a sarcastic glare.

"Oh come on! Belle, I've seen the way he looks at you. Well, the few times I've seen him actually look at you and his reaction to when you were mentioned. You were staying with him for a while," Ruby told her.

"I just don't know. He seems to be so rooted in magic, and he can't have me that way. Magic seems more important to him," Belle said, thinking about the time when he told her why he was using magic. Even if it was only for his son, Belle was cautious around him.

"Belle," Ruby said. "If there is one thing everyone in this town knows about Mr. Gold it's that he has wronged so many people with his deals and prices. But, when the prince came in and told me that he finally had Rumpel under control, that's how I could see it. No one, no one ever has Mr. Gold detained without chains and special cell! But, the prince did. Why? Because Rumpelstiltskin was worried about you."

Belle looked up into Ruby's eyes, astounded at the way she told her tale.

"You speak as though you've lost a love yourself," Belle observed.

"...I did," Ruby said, her eyes conveying now a more sorrowful compassion. "Back when I realized I was part wolf and didn't know how to control it, I didn't even recognize my love...I killed him."

Belle's eyes widened, and she stood up.

"Whoa whoa, relax honey!" Ruby exclaimed. "I can control it now."

Belle's body slumped a little, and Ruby told no more of her story; but, all she had left to say to Belle was that unlike herself, she had a second chance.

"You can choose him. You can choose a different life," Ruby said, and as she intended the entire time, right up the road, two buildings down was Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop. Belle looked up to see the shop, then turned back to Ruby.

"No time like the present," Ruby urged. "If he rejects you, I'll be right outside."

"What? I can't go in there," Belle said, backing away. However, Ruby wouldn't have it. She pushed Belle, literally, up to the shop, just outside the door. Belle could see Rumpel working on something inside.

Ruby was the closest thing to a friend Belle had at the moment, but she really didn't want to go in.

"Do you want to be with your father the rest of your life?" Ruby whispered. "Really?" Belle shook her head, and Ruby smiled, urging her to go inside.

Red waited outside in the trees, trying to see if there was a reaction or spark amongst them.