A Unique Way of Speaking
Once Upon A Time
Regina/Ruby (Red Queen)
Rated PG
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: I have no idea why but Pongo was insistent that he be included in this story and how could I refuse that sweet face? Hopefully it won't be too random as to be off putting.
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"Ruby, wake up girl. Jason has been waiting for his coffee for five minutes!"
Ruby jumped at her Granny's voice sounding right in her ear. "Oh sorry," she muttered, grabbing the pot and pouring the gas station owner his coffee and then going back to wiping down the already clean counter.
Granny Lucas looked around the now nearly empty diner then turned to study her granddaughter with concern. The girl had been distracted for the last two days, almost to the point of moping which wasn't like the normally too perky werewolf.
"What's going on with you Ruby?" the old woman asked kindly. "It's not wolf time so…"
"I did something stupid," she muttered, waiting for the inevitable 'what's new?" but to her surprise her grandmother didn't take the opening.
"Come on and let's sit down," Granny said, chuckling at Ruby's shocked expression. "Oh relax girl. The diner's empty and I like to sit occasionally myself."
Ruby poured them both some coffee and followed Granny to a corner booth.
"Okay, so what did you do that was so stupid?"
Ruby sighed. "If I tell you, I don't want to hear any grief about it," she warned.
"Ruby…"
"No, I mean it. If you make any snide comments about what I tell you I'll stop and I'll never confide in you again."
Granny cringed inwardly at the harsh words but she knew she hadn't really done a lot to engender trust from her granddaughter. "Very well. You have my word."
Ruby saw the sincerity in her grandmother's eyes and nodded. She thought for a moment of the best ways to ease into subject and then finally decided to blurt it out.
"I'm strongly attracted to Regina Mills and I've been sending her little anonymous notes. I think she figured it out because she hasn't been back since I sent my last one and I'm afraid I hurt her feelings," Ruby released in a rush.
Granny could do nothing but stare at Ruby as she tried to process what she'd heard. "Regina? As in Evil Queen, caster of the curse that sent us here?"
Ruby narrowed her eyes. "That's the one."
To her surprise, Granny found she wasn't as angry or even surprised as she should have been. "Huh," she managed thoughtfully.
"Huh? That's all you have to say?"
Granny smirked. "I was under the impression you didn't want me to say anything."
"Granny," Ruby groaned in aggravation.
"Ok, ok. Here's what I think. Yes, I've got problems with the things Regina has done both here and back in the Forest. Big problems, but the thing is, I'm pretty sure she does too, and that tells me a lot about who she is underneath that ice and arrogance."
"You've noticed that too?" Ruby asked with surprise.
"How could I not? That woman's eyes tell you everything you want to know and usually a lot more that you don't."
"I know. Sometimes I look at her and I want to cry."
Granny couldn't help but smile. "You've always been to soft hearted for your own good."
"It's not like that Granny," Ruby protested. "I don't feel sorry for her. Well not entirely. I know that she made her choices regardless of what motivated them, but I also know a woman driven by pain when I see one. A woman who feels she has nobody in the world who cares enough to bring her back from the darkness and figures it's not worth trying."
Granny patted Ruby's hand sympathetically. "I know you do and I know that had it not been for Snow you could have ended up just like Regina."
"And I had you too," Ruby added with a shaky smile. "Regina has been trying so hard to be better and I swear, it's like she's beaten down after each step forward she makes. Hell, I'm the one who kicked her in the teeth when we thought Archie had been killed."
"You just told Emma what you saw Ruby and I doubt Regina would hold that against you."
"Really Granny?" Ruby laughed. "Regina Mills can hold a grudge better than anyone on the planet, in case you've forgotten," she gestured at their present surroundings as a reminder.
"That's true," Granny chuckled. Despite everything else, Granny had always privately enjoyed the former Mayor's feistiness. "How long have you had feelings for her?"
Ruby was relieved nearly to tears to hear the curiosity instead of condemnation in her Grandmother's voice. "I don't know. About the time Regina burst into the town meeting after Emma and Snow disappeared."
"You're serious? She stormed in like a ball of fury and scared the hell out of everybody by tossing her magic around. How was that attractive to you?"
"Come on, you have to agree it was kind of hot," Ruby smirked at the eye roll she received. "Okay," she said more serious. "It wasn't really that so much that as what she was like the next time I saw her."
"I don't follow."
"When she burst into that meeting, she was so proud, confident and bad-ass," Ruby said almost wistfully.
"Not to mention arrogant, obnoxious and violent," Granny reminded her.
"Yeah that too," Ruby grinned thinking that just added some extra sexy. "But the next day when she came to the diner, that was all gone. She was still her cold frosty self, but the fire in her eyes was gone. And they just grew sadder each time she saw Henry here with David and it just…I don't know. Nobody should ever feel so alone. Especially someone like Regina."
"Because she's beautiful?" Granny prodded, wanting to make sure Ruby understood her own feelings.
"No. Hell Granny, there are lots of beautiful people here, men and women and she was beautiful even when I couldn't stand her. No, it's just I have finally really seen her. She is a woman that tries so damned hard to be strong and indifferent but I can see the cracks in the wall she's put up around herself and all I want is to just wrap my arms around her and let her know she isn't alone."
"So you've been sending her secret admirer notes?" Granny asked curiously.
"Yeah. Well I only sent three. She didn't react well to the first two and I think she believes I was making fun of her."
"If that were true Ruby, I'm pretty sure she would have confronted you about it by now."
"Hopefully she doesn't know it was me," Ruby said, the fear finally reaching her eyes.
"Oh Ruby. You do have it bad don't you?"
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"Doctor Hopper. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
"Of course Regina, come in," Archie said pleasantly, glad for the two hours warning he had to prepare himself for this. Regina had always been more than a little reluctant to see him professionally and he was definitely curious as to see what had caused this change of heart.
Regina didn't like the awkwardness she always felt when entering the doctor's office. She hated the expectation of having anyone witness her vulnerability, especially the formerly condescending cricket. Still, she was intelligent enough to know when an impartial party was needed.
Taking a seat on the sofa, Regina pulled out the two surviving letters and practically shoved them at the Doctor.
"Did you send these?" She asked bluntly. She was fairly certain he hadn't but she wanted verification. She jumped slightly in surprise as Archie's dog Pongo leapt up on the couch and lay down beside her.
"Pongo, bad boy," Archie reached out to shoo the Dalmatian down but Regina held up a hand.
"He's fine," she said simply and unconsciously began to stroke the head that had fallen on her lap. "So did you send these?"
Archie's eyebrows rose in total shock at his dog's reaction to the woman he'd 'seen' kill him, and even more so by Regina's easy acceptance of the dog's presence beside her. Deciding that dwelling on that would get him nowhere, especially since she was getting that familiar impatient look on her face, he took the letters and skimmed through them. He felt his cheeks warm at the blatant sincerity and innocent tenderness that they contained, feeling like he'd just invaded the writer's privacy.
"No I didn't, but they're lovely," he finally admitted.
Regina frowned, biting back a sarcastic retort. "I didn't think you did," she admitted, "but you're the only one in town who's shown any interest in my well being, even after…by the way, I am very sorry that my mother attacked you in order to get to me."
Archie was proud of how well he hid his surprise at her apology. "That's alright. It wasn't your fault," he assured her and he meant it. He'd heard rumors about Cora Mills but meeting her in person explained more about Regina than the former Mayor herself ever needed to.
"I'm aware of that, but I'm sorry anyway."
Archie hid a smile at the woman's stubbornness. "So, given that you're here, I'm going to assume that these letters have bothered you. Why?"
Again, Regina's inner Queen was demanding she mock the cricket for his aggravating habit of stating the obvious. Again, she shoved her Queen aside. She'd finally come to accept that asking for help could occasionally be a strength and not a weakness, even if she didn't like it.
"Because there are only two reasons for sending these notes and they both leave me…unequipped to respond appropriately."
"I don't understand. What do you believe these reasons are?"
"Really Archie?" Regina couldn't help herself. "I'm fairly sure you know what those would be, but since you need to hear it… the most likely reason is that it's someone's pathetic attempt at a joke. A way to humiliate the Evil Queen."
"And that makes you angry."
"You think?" Regina snapped before reigning in her temper. "No it didn't make me angry. It made me furious. I will not be humiliated by someone too cowardly to address me to my face."
"So it doesn't bother you to have people trying to murder you," Archie commented curiously , reminding them of Whale's lynch mob after the curse broke, "but being made fun infuriates you?"
"Yes. And after I read the first note, I used magic to destroy it," Regina admitted reluctantly, knowing she'd broken her promise to Henry.
"Why did you use magic instead of just throwing it away?" Archie asked without judgment and for once Regina appreciated the almost casual tone of the psychiatrist's voice.
"I suspected the person who left it was watching, hoping to see a reaction. I gave them one and reminded them just who they were messing with."
Archie knew the woman sitting across from well enough to know that pushing the issue of her use of magic would have her shutting down in a heartbeat. And to be honest, he'd always thought Henry had been a bit harsh in requiring Regina's promise not to use something that was such an essential part of her.
"So what's the second reason for this person sending the note?" He asked, somewhat disarmed by Regina's lifted eyebrow. He supposed he'd surprised her by changing the subject.
"The second reason is that this person was being sincere," Regina answered plainly.
"Ok. It sounds to me like the thought of someone saying these things to you with sincerity, upsets you more than, if it had been a joke. Why? Is it really so difficult to think that someone truly cares about you?"
Regina scowled even as she battled the sting of tears in her eyes. "Yes. Yes it is," she answered immediately, looking away from the too knowing gaze and down at the dog sleeping beside her.
"I don't like it," Regina stated coldly. "In my experience, people aren't kind for no reason. Whoever this is…they had to know that this pretense of concern would rattle me. And it has. I keep trying to figure out just what it is they want from me and it's becoming a distraction." The anxious expression on Archie's face told her that she'd lost the grip on her temper so she quickly reined it in.
"Perhaps this is just what they wanted," she added more calmly.
Archie sighed sadly and sat back in his seat, wondering how people, including himself, had missed the massive load of self-doubt this woman carried. "So I suspect" he said carefully, "that you would actually prefer these notes to be some sort of prank. That you would welcome the anger that would come from being mocked. Anger is something you're most comfortable with, even if you don't' always handle it in the most positive of ways."
Regina was impressed with Archie's insight. He was right. Anger was very easy to manage which was why she clung to it like a favored blanket. Compassion however, was an unknown entity and it confused her. She'd read the last letter too many times to count. The sweet words made her mind spin violently with so many conflicting emotions and doubts that she was almost overwhelmed and the only outlet she knew was magic and torment. She couldn't let that happen again. She wouldn't, even if it killed her.
Pongo, sensing Regina's increasing agitation, lifted his head and nudged her softly on the arm, drawing a smile before he plopped his head back on her lap.
"I'm fairly sure I know who sent me the letters and the rose," she continued, her emotions once more under control, "and if she's sincere, I have no idea what to do about it."
She? "It seems that the person who sent these to you is more than just worried about you," Archie noted softly. "It seems they may have some pretty strong romantic feelings for you. Does it bother you that the person may be a woman?"
Regina scoffed. "No. I've never considered gender to be an issue regarding romantic matters. However, I've also not had the time nor the interest for entanglements with either gender in many, many years."
Maybe that's been your problem,´ Archie couldn't help the defiant little mental dig as he remembered the cruel taunts she'd often thrown at him, but as quick as the bitterness came, it vanished as he studied the once formidable woman who was now looking more emotionally agitated than he'd ever seen her.
"This person that you think wrote these to you….what do you think of her? Is she someone who's capable of deliberate cruelty?"
"Everyone is capable of deliberate cruelty Doctor Hopper," Regina pointed out bluntly, "especially when it's easy to justify."
"Fair enough," Archie agreed. "But is she someone who would deliberately try to hurt you?"
"I don't know."
Archie leaned forward as his mind processed Regina's words and he tried to figure out how to help this extremely complicated woman. "I think you do know Regina. Well your heart knows but your head is fighting it. Tell me about her."
Regina exhaled sharply. "I don't really know too much about her. We've spoken but not at length. She's…well let's just say she's opposite of me in just about every way imaginable, except…"
"Except?" Archie prodded. He had a pretty good idea who wrote the letters but wouldn't dare mention it.
"On the surface, she's open and friendly to everyone, almost obnoxiously so, but there's a latent darkness inside of her that she is constantly fighting and I know all to well what that's like."
Ruby, Archie thought knowingly. "So, does the thought of her being romantically interested in you disgust or upset you?"
Regina looked down at Pongo and softly stroked his fur as she thought of her answer. She let herself consider what it would be like to spend time with the werewolf, knowing the power inside of the usually carefree waitress and vastly intrigued by it. She let herself contemplate the idea of seducing and being seduced by the beautiful woman, letting her hold her and in turn kissing Ruby until she was either growling in anticipation or whimpering in surrender. It was not a disturbing thought at all.
"No," she said meeting Archie's eyes almost arrogantly. "No it doesn't."
"Then perhaps you know what to do after all."
Regina studied the man she'd mocked for so long, intimidated by his uncanny way of reading people and not liking it one bit, which often resulted in her lashing out at him.
"I believe I do," She said getting to her feet and unable to stop the chuckle at the dog who wasn't happy to have his pillow removed. She patted his head gently before looking back to Archie.
"Thank you Archie. I never thought I'd ever say this to you, but you've helped me considerably."
Archie felt his cheeks heat at the backhanded compliment. "You know there's still a lot more to…"
"Don't push your luck Cricket," Regina interrupted, but the small smile on Regina's face was sincere causing him to smile. Then the smile faded and Archie swallowed seeing a return of the coldhearted Mayor appear in her eyes.
"Oh by the way, I would appreciate it if you would keep this little chat confidential," she warned pointedly, reminding him of his previous poor lapse in judgment with Emma Swan.
"You have my word Regina," he said with a hint of regret and then held the door open as Regina left, for the first time not slamming it behind her.
