A/N: Hello everyone! I seriously should not be writing another fanfiction (I seem to stop concentrating on my school work when I start a new one), but there is not enough RedCricket out there and it is an incredibly cute coupling- at least in my opinion. Thus, this fiction was created! This fiction was started right after the "Child of the Moon" episode, so please keep that in mind as many plot points will be disregarded and changed from where the show is now. Yay for AU! Enjoy and please review, dearies!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the show plot of Once Upon A Time, I only like to play with the characters for a little while. I am doing this for my own enjoyment and that of my readers, but I am not getting paid for it. Please, no sue.

Summary: As Ruby she always felt lost, as Red was just trying to find her missing piece. She never knew that she would find what she was looking for in the presence of the town conscience. RedCricket

The Missing Piece

Prologue:

"I know I am not your first love, but I hope I will be the last for you."

~Anonymous

Twenty-Eight and a half years ago…

Jiminy Cricket was never one to complain, but as he hopped along the roadside he couldn't help thinking that it was a long trip for one of such little stature. The small village at the opposite end of the roadway was where many of the guests of royals stayed. As one of their most important guests he was offered room at the castle, but he denied it, much rather staying in the village- one that reminded him of where he came from. He huffed and looked over his green shoulder toward the wings on his back. They were still wet thanks to the woman who threw a cup of water at him when he asked, politely, not to step on him. He should have known better than to have Gepetto go ahead with young Pinocchio.

He heard more footfalls approaching and scurried to the side with an exasperated sigh. The last thing he needed was a repeat performance and another cup of water. Then the footfalls stopped right behind him and he turned to see the individual.

It was a woman; he was sure by the corseted waist and the fair skin that he spied under her dark hood. She stood and looked at him as her head cocked to the side under the red material as if trying to understand the small being below her. She examined him and he tugged on his jacket to make sure he was somewhat presentable to be in front of a lady. She hummed and chuckled a little to herself.

"I never thought I'd see the day where insects would wear clothing," she said in a near whisper and he heard the smile in her voice.

"Well, I am no ordinary cricket," he said back and she jumped a little in surprise from the voice. It was his turn to chuckle and he nodded with a swift bow he had perfected as a cricket, "Jiminy Cricket, m'lady."

She hesitated for a moment and then pulled back her hood to reveal herself. Jiminy had to hold back his gasp for though he didn't know what he expected of the woman, he definitely didn't expect the beauty that was revealed. Dark brown hair, nearly black cascaded from around her shoulders, ruby red lips surrounded white teeth and her light green-gray eyes, nearly silver in the light of the nearly full moon, shone down at him. Then her lips spread over a slight smile and her face seemed to glow.

"They call me Red," she introduced herself and knelt down in front of him, "You have to be the most polite and well spoken cricket I have ever met."

"I-I thank you for the compliment," he stuttered and moved his megaphone a little in his front since it began to hang strangely over to one side.

"I am guessing that not many people could hear you without that," she pointed to the contraption.

"No one except those who are as small as I," he nodded and shrugged it on his tiny shoulders once again.

"Or maybe ones with extraordinary hearing," she rolled her eyes to one side and then nodded at him, "Try to talk to me without it."

He was the one to tilt his head to the side that time, but did as she asked. He was very inclined to give into any demands she may have of him. He put the small, yet effective machine on the ground and looked up at her.

With a sigh he put a cricket hand to his chin, "Now, what to say…"

"I heard that just fine," she smiled and laughed at what she supposed was a surprised look on his face. She quickly pulled at one of her ears, "I told you, extraordinary hearing."

He felt like his mandibles were just waving awkwardly in the air and his hands slightly wavered.

"So, Mr. Cricket," she started since she felt he was a little surprised by her gift of hearing even the smallest of noises- or voices, "Where are you heading to on this night? Not to talk an exceptional cricket down, but this road could be a very long trip for one of such small stature."

His black eyes flicked up to her in surprise. It was as if she could read his mind. He shook himself out of his stupor and looked back up at her.

"Jiminy, please," he put a hand on his chest and bowed his head at the request that she call him by his first name. She nodded in agreement and he continued, "I was on my way toward the castle. I am to meet with a council of sorts and my companions went ahead."

"Ah, my companion also went ahead of me on a carriage for the trip up the castle way… so you are to help with the problems that we are all to face. A clever cricket indeed," she nodded in understanding and held out her hand toward him, "Than you are going my way. Would you mind some company or a ride on a shoulder?"

"As much as I am opposed to intruding on you, I am quite tempted as my wings are not yet dry to fly the rest of the way," he looked at her hand and put a small hand on one of her fingers, "And I have to say the company does look tempting to stay in as well."

"Well spoken and a charmer," Red smirked at him and nodded to her hand, "Come along, Jiminy. We don't want to keep their majesties waiting. Snow already has enough stress with the baby on its way. From the sound of that rather impressive promise, the Evil Queen is trying to capture us all."

"Take all our happiness away," he agreed and hopped into her hand. She placed him on her shoulder, just to the side of the hood. She also picked up his megaphone and put it safely in her pocket at her belt, "Thank you again for the ride, Miss Red."

She giggled at the formality, "Really, if I am to call you Jiminy, I must require you call me Red. I don't know if you can tell, but I think that you and I will get along well, and I refuse for my friends to call me Miss."

"As you wish, Red," he agreed and felt his mandibles try to shift into a smile.

"Thank you," she sighed and stood up as they walked their way to the castle, "How do you know their majesties, Jiminy?"

"I guess I could be known as an advisor of sorts," he explained, "They- along with many others- ask me of my thoughts. I give them freely. I helped James out of a couple of binds and I also knew Snow White from a past time when she wasn't aware of some memories and wasn't herself. The dwarves brought me to her to try and talk some sense into her."

"I remember when Grumpy told me when she forgot about James," Red nodded, "She wasn't herself."

"And you?" he asked, eager to know more of the woman that had miraculously found him at the side of the road, "How do you know their majesties?"

They talked for the hour it took for her to walk up to the castle. They found that they always passed by one another in their dealings with the Charmings, but seeing as he was always so small, he was easy to overlook, no matter how clever he was. She had found that he had great advice for nearly anything and everything. He was wise and knew about the people from not only their kingdom, but from the kingdoms surrounding as well. He found out about her friendship with Snow White and how she had a soft spot for canines. She lived with her grandmother now, her parents lost to her long ago.

As they entered the castle, a pregnant Snow White rushed forward and crushed Red in a hug, barely missing Jiminy on her shoulder. Jiminy was quick to jump onto the nearby railing of some stairs. He saw her eyes worriedly shift in his direction and he waved at her from the railing. She took a relieved breath and hugged her friend back.

"We are just waiting for one more," Snow told her as she leaned back. The young queen looked tired and worse for wear, but somewhat happy at her friend's entrance.

"Let me guess, one Jiminy Cricket?" Red asked and picked the magical megaphone from her pocket and carried it over to his perch on the stairway.

"Jiminy!" Snow was startled and looked down at him, "Where did you come from?"

He quickly put on his mega phone and cleared his throat, "Red was kind enough to let me catch a ride on her shoulder to the castle. I am assuming that Gepetto and Pinocchio made it here in one piece?"

"They are already in the war room," she nodded and circled an arm through Red's in a sign of companionship and looked her in the eyes, "Along with Granny. We are ready to start."

"Coming, Jiminy?" Red held out her other hand and he jumped into it. She smiled down at him, "I promise that I will be more aware of people rushing at me for hugs."

"Thank you," he nodded once again.

After the meeting, Jiminy sat on the balcony that connected to the soon to be nursery. Gepetto was using it as a workshop and worked feverishly on the wardrobe that would carry Snow White, heavy with the new princess and his son to a land free from the Evil Queen's curse. Jiminy would be there for them, just as he had always been, but he was still cross with his ward. The princess would need her parents, both of them. As much as he worried for Pinocchio, he knew where their future stood and it was not with the boy.

He looked up at the sky and heard the sounds of normal crickets out in the forest. They still soothed him, even being of another species. How could he live with this deception, even though he wished for the young boy's well-being?

"Hello Gepetto," a voice called from inside the room and Jiminy flicked his antennas back toward the door, "Snow sent me up with some honey and some warm biscuits."

"Thank her for us, would you?" Gepetto smiled from behind the large trunk. He patted Pinocchio on the head as the young boy immediately took a warm biscuit from the tray.

"I will," she nodded and her eyes scanned the room, "Where is Jiminy?"

"He is out on the patio," Pinocchio pointed to the doors that were slightly open. The boy got closer to Red and waved at her to lean down so he could whisper. He pointed to the small megaphone that Jiminy usually wore that now sat next to their tools, "He's a little mad at papa."

"Oh?" Red smiled at the boy's frantic nod. Jiminy could feel his heart beat quicken and again pulled and patted down his jacket to make himself presentable.

"Pinocchio, I need your help on this," Gepetto called over and the boy scampered to his father.

Red lifted her upper half, tore off half a biscuit, put some honey on the side of it and walked out to the patio. She found the cricket on the top of the railing, looking out toward the forests. She put the half of the biscuit next to him and then pulled herself up to sit next to it. Neither said anything as silence settled over the patio. Jiminy eventually reached out for some of the biscuit and pushed it into his mandibles.

"Thank you for bringing this up to us, Red," he said quietly.

"I have to admit, I had other motives for bringing up the plate," she smiled down at him at which he smiled back, that is if he could. She looked out over the scenery before she continued, "How are you feeling about the plan?"

"I don't like the idea of the Prince having to stay behind," Jiminy said with a regretful sigh.

"I don't either, but Snow is a strong woman, she will raise our savior well," Red nodded. They both became quiet again and heard the crickets hum, "I love the sounds of the forest. It's more soothing then-"

A large crash sounded inside the nursery and Gepetto yelled out, "Be careful with the saw!"

Red looked at Jiminy with concern.

"That's normal," he shrugged and she started to laugh. He loved the sound of her laugh and chuckled along with her.

At that moment, Jiminy Cricket knew that he was completely and totally smitten.

The following four months after that night Jiminy had spent most of his time with Gepetto and Pinocchio in the workshop as usual, but found himself preoccupied with Red the rest of the time. They spent most of their time walking around the edge of the forests- well, more like Red walking and him sitting on her shoulder or flying at the side of her head. She intrigued him and they talked about anything that caught their fancy. Despite being young, she was quite intelligent and well informed, probably a side effect of being one of Snow's closest friends and confidents. She had to know the workings of the castle and of the kingdom if she was to help her best friend out.

She told him of her animal side out of the blue one night as they strolled down the forest's edge. She told him that she surprised herself, but it was just something about him that made her want to tell him the truth. Being told that she was a shape shifter was surprising at first, but made sense when he thought about it. He, in turn, told her of his human side and how he had become who- or what- he was, not going into complete detail of his own sins. It made it easier to know that she knew at least something about being part of the animal kingdom as well as the human.

One early evening, Jiminy was again toward the top of the nearly finished wardrobe and looked down at Gepetto. He watched as the last pieces fell together and faintly heard the large bell at the top of the tower ring. He looked at Gepetto and then at Pinocchio, "It's here."

At the last piece Gepetto smiled and hurried to put Pinocchio into the wardrobe. News of the baby's impending birth reached them, but Gepetto had already made up his mind; he was going to save his son. Pinocchio was going. With a loving send off from his father and some well to do advice from Jiminy, the boy disappeared. As soon as he had, Gepetto nodded to his longtime friend, understanding it may be the last time he would see him and rushed to tell the Charmings about the wardrobe.

With his ward off to tell the royals, Pinocchio gone and the warning bell echoing through the halls, Jiminy had one thought on his mind. He turned toward the door and heard the fighting down below, along with a loud howl. He quickly jumped out the room and rushed toward the fighting. He knew that she would be there- fighting and clawing at the intruders of the castle. Around the far corner he spotted two palace guards dead and a large, injured wolf toward one side of the hallway.

"Red!" He flew over, wishing that he was human to get to her quicker. With every flick of his wings he hoped and prayed that she was still alive. He wouldn't forgive himself if he didn't make it to her just because he couldn't cover enough ground. He landed to the side of her face and patted her muzzle with a small hand.

"Red?" he asked and stepped closer to her. Her golden eyes opened and seemed to recognize him in front of her. She whimpered and tried to get up to help in the fight again. He shook his head, "No, Red. The wardrobe is complete. Our savior is going to be saved. We will all be saved."

At the news, she relaxed a little against the cold, stone floor. She kept her eyes on his form and tried to turn her head toward him in a canine-like hug. She whimpered again and he nodded next to her, "Of course I am going to stay with you."

He looked out the window they were near and turned toward her as the dark cloud descended over the castle. The window blew out the window from the outside and the cloud that carried the dark curse rolled toward them. He felt her paw push him closer and he closed his eyes against her fur as the curse enveloped all.