Part 2
Disclaimers: Not Mine.
Note: *Henry will be incorporated very little since I simply don't like him and I always feel bad for Red who everyone winds up dumping Henry on without even asking. So, that's a little of my personal aggravation slipping through heh)
This chapter is way longer than I'd intended it to be and will most likely be clipped a bit later on. At this point I'm stuck for ideas so if anyone has any, please feel free to share them.
"Hello Ruby."
Ruby spun around at the familiar and painfully seductive voice, splashing the coffee she'd been pouring all over the counter. She briefly thought that if Regina Mills ever ran out of money she could make a fortune as one of those women who worked those adult 1-900 phone lines, though she suspected the former Mayor wouldn't find that at all flattering.
"Reg…Ms. Mills. What can I get you?"
"Just coffee…if you have any left," Regina commented as she nodded at the large puddle on the counter.
"Oh shit," Ruby muttered, ignoring the fact she was being laughed at and quickly mopped up the mess. She looked at the carafe relieved to see it was still mostly full as she poured Regina her coffee to go.
"Charming as always," Regina commented drily, her grin widening. She was surprised to realize that her smile was one of true amusement and not the cruel mockery that usually lifted her lips.
"Well perhaps if someone put a bell on you or something, I would have heard you come in," Ruby groused and then realized what she'd just said and to whom. She cautiously turned her head bracing for the infamous glower of doom coming from the piercing dark eyes. Instead she was n early floored to see an honest to God grin on the woman's face.
"They could try," Regina said her voice clearly indicating what would befall anyone stupid enough to follow Ruby's suggestion. She then lifted an eyebrow speculatively. "Hm. Maybe you'd like to be the one to attempt to collar the Evil Queen," she grinned with a throaty voice full of suggestion.
If Ruby had been drinking something at that moment, she had no doubt it would have just been sprayed all over Regina's smirking beautiful face.
"Pardon?"
"Never mind dear," Regina chuckled at the woman she never would have seen as capable of blushing. She paid for her coffee and turned to leave before hesitating and turning back to the still befuddled and wildly blushing Ruby. Apparently the pretty werewolf's imagination was still running through the gutter and that pleased the former Mayor for some reason.
"Uh, did you forget something?" Ruby managed to ask after she finally shook the images Regina's words shot through her mind.
"Actually I did. I…" Regina paused, suddenly feeling enormously out of her element. "I never thanked you for your assistance yesterday."
"Oh, well I was in the neighborhood," Ruby prevaricated.
"Be that as it may, I would like to repay your kindness."
"That's not necessary," Ruby began cautiously.
"Maybe not, but it's what I plan to do none the less."
Ruby snorted, more amused than offended at how the woman could make even gratitude sound arrogant. "Alright, your Majesty. What did you have in mind?"
"I thought I would cook dinner for you this evening. If you don't have plans that is."
It took a full second for the invitation to process. Of everything she could have expected Regina Mills to propose, having her, Snow White's close friend of all people, over for dinner didn't even make the top 100. "I uh…you're inviting me over? To your house?"
Regina tried very hard not to notice the hint of suspicion on Ruby's face and even harder not to feel hurt by it. Nobody had the power to hurt her feelings. She wouldn't have it. "Never mind Miss Lucas. I'll find something else."
After her shock had worn off, Ruby let herself look once more into Regina's eyes. That was, apparently the one true way to read the woman and Ruby decided she had to draw Regina into a poker game some time. What she saw now was something that startled and saddened her. It was very subtle, but Ruby recognized loneliness when she saw it and she couldn't bring herself to ignore it.
"No wait, I'd love to," she said hurriedly, before the inherently proud woman could storm off.
"It's not an order Miss Lucas. You can refuse without any retaliation on my part," Regina said stiffly, not about to accept pity from this woman of all people.
"De-bunch your panties Mayor," Ruby teased deliberately, laughing outright at the death glare she received for that. "I was just surprised, but I would very much enjoy having dinner with you." And she realized she meant it. Regina was the biggest enigma that she'd ever encountered and she felt extremely honored to have a chance to learn a little bit about the woman so many had deemed evil.
"Very well. Is there any food that you don't care for or are allergic to?"
"Not that I know of."
"Good. I'll have dinner ready by six. Please be prompt. Oh, and please, do try to wear pants…if you own any," she suggested drily, unwittingly giving Ruby the same thorough once over she'd been subjected to as her eyes lowered to examine the long, wonderfully bare and beautifully toned legs.
Ruby fought off the shiver that went through her at having those intense eyes running slowly down her body. Good God, Ruby thought, how would I survive it if she used her hands.
"Now where would the fun be in that?" Ruby managed to reply, pleased that her voice only sounded a little raspy.
With a smug grin that was far more attractive to Ruby than it should have been, Regina left, having Ruby wondering if she hadn't just hallucinated the whole thing and if she hadn't, what the hell was she going to wear?
Ruby sighed in exhaustion as she left the now virtually deserted diner, once more grateful that Granny had finally relented and hired servers for the afternoon shift. The last few hours had been crazy busy which had been a relief as it kept Ruby from dwelling too much on her upcoming dinner with Regina.
It was only as she cleared up the last table that she let herself start to worry about the potential disaster waiting to happen in a few hours. Deciding that it would be the polite, which meant expected thing to do, Ruby headed to the local liquor store to buy a bottle of wine, hoping the owner Paul could help her find one fine enough for Her Pickiness.
As the store was only a few blocks away, Ruby decided to walk, happy to see that the repairs on the buildings that had been damaged by Gold's Wraith, were almost finished. Storybrooke was finally getting back to normal, well as normal as it could be considering who they were and the always present awareness that Emma Swan and Snow White were still stuck in the Enchanted Forest, or what was left of it.
Ruby sighed and wondered just how Regina and David were going to get them back and if they did, would the people of Storybrooke be sent back to their own land? Would they want to? Just as she was growing agitated by her own thoughts, she passed in front of Dora's, one of the few clothing stores in Storybrooke. Inexplicably, she found her eyes drawn to a black dress draped elegantly on the display mannequin in the window. It was a sleeveless sheath that would reach only mid thigh, and was way more understated and sophisticated than anything Ruby usually wore but just as she was about to keep walking, the afternoon sun shone in through the large window . Ruby looked closer and was captivated by a subtle streak of red that shimmered through the black material and she decided she had to have this dress to wear Regina's. She wasn't sure why, but she wanted…needed to show the always chic and painfully gorgeous former Mayor that there was more to her than short shorts or skinny jeans and bare midriffs. She entered the store knowing she was more than likely going to wipe out her savings and not caring a single damned bit.
"Hey Ruby!"
The brunette jumped at the unexpected shout and turned to see Henry and David walking toward where she was standing just outside of Dora's, holding her new purchase.
"Hey Henry," she replied fondly. "David. "
"What are you doing?" Henry asked looking at the fancy garment bag with that curiosity that was one day going to get him into trouble.
"Nothing as exciting as you're probably thinking" she said kindly. "I just had some errands to run and saw this dress in the window."
"Oh really?" David leered playfully. "Hot date tonight?"
"Well that has yet to be seen but I have hopes," she grinned, only half teasing. . "I'm having dinner with Regina."
"My…Why do you want to have dinner with her?" Henry asked bluntly, drawing Ruby's eyes away from David's amusingly dumbfounded expression.
Before she could answer an older man Ruby didn't recognize interrupted.
"Excuse me Your Highness but may I have a word?"
Ruby smirked as David blinked as he remembered he wasn't just David Nolan, animal shelter employee, and just acting Sherriff but a Prince as well. "Yes of course. Henry you stay here with Ruby….do you mind?" He asked the waitress as an afterthought.
Secretly Ruby was wondering when she'd become the automatic babysitter, but she merely nodded. She needed a word with the boy anyway.
"So? Why do you want to have dinner my mom?" Henry asked again once David had stepped away. He looked at Ruby as if spending time with Regina was the weirdest thing in the world.
Ruby sighed sadly understanding fully for the first time what was behind Regina's cold and self protective demeanor. "Because, she's alone Henry and pretty sad."
Henry frowned. "Well sure, the curse broke and now everyone remembers she's the Evil Queen."
Ruby shook her head. This kid was so one tracked minded he couldn't see the bigger picture. He was more like Regina than he'd ever know. "No Henry. She's sad because you lied to her yesterday."
Henry shifted uncomfortably. "Oh that."
"Yeah, that."
"I didn't mean to lie but I needed to get her out of her office so I could find the keys to the mausoleum. I know there's something there that can help Emma and Snow," he protested, not understanding what he'd done wrong.
"Did you think to just ask her?" Ruby asked gently. "Maybe while you were having lunch with her?"
"I…no. She wouldn't have given them to me."
"How do you know that?" Ruby prodded softly. "Look Henry, I get it, I do. I know how much you want to get Emma and Snow back, but you see this as some grand adventure, just like when you were trying to break the curse, but it's not that simple."
"I know, My mom tried to…"
"No Henry, it's not just Regina. You need to realize that the curse…everything that's happening right now is not just a game. All of it is affecting real people. Most of it good, but some, not so good. Do you know what breaking the curse meant to me?"
Henry shifted again, not knowing what had upset his friend so much. "It means you can be yourself again," he insisted.
"That's right and being myself means painfully transforming into a wolf and killing innocent people during a full moon," she reminded him. She didn't like upsetting him and she knew it wasn't close to being her place, but he needed to learn some hard truths and everyone seemed hell bent on shielding him from the very real consequences to his actions.
"I didn't think about that," Henry admitted sadly. "But everyone else…"
"I'm not saying it was a bad thing to break the curse Henry. It was a very good thing you did and many people have finally been reunited with those they love. You were very smart and I love your determination but you have to start looking at the people involved, not just their stories, which are half truths at best. Your mom… the book told you she was this heartless, emotionless Evil Queen so you believed it, but that's not true Henry Not entirely. I think if anything she feels too much."
"No she doesn't," Henry protested, though he wasn't so sure. When she let him go home with David and swore that she wanted to redeem herself, he could tell she meant it but it didn't change the fact of what she'd done and so he reminded Ruby.
"Ok, we both know she's done some pretty bad things," Ruby agreed, "but if you forget what was printed in that book of yours and you truly look at her, you'll see the very real pain that lives in her eyes. I saw that for the first time today when I was talking to her. I let myself see past the sneer and the anger and looked in her eyes and what I saw was…well, I get the impression that everything she's done was brought on by something that happened to her that was so painful she had no other way to cope. Someone who has no heart or no emotions wouldn't have been so damaged. Understand?"
"I guess, but she never talks about her past."
"Again, did you ever ask her?"
For the first time, Henry sort of felt ashamed of himself. "No. I didn't think she'd tell me."
"Look kid, it's not my place to be telling you any of this and I don't want to make you feel bad. I guess my point is I wanted to let you know that you really hurt Regina today. I know you didn't mean it. I know how much you want Emma and Snow home. I do too, but playing on someone's feelings…especially someone who has some very deep trust issues to begin with and who is working very hard to change, well that's not the kind of thing good people do is it?"
Henry didn't like the weird feeling in his stomach. He knew it was guilt and it was something he wasn't used to feeling. He always believed he was acting on the side of good and helping the White Knight, his real mom. He hadn't wanted to hurt anyone. Well except the Evil Queen who it turns out may not be so evil after all.
"I'm sorry," he finally said feeling his eyes sting with tears. "I wasn't trying to hurt her, I just wanted to help."
Ruby's heart broke a little and she wrapped her arms around the little boy. "Oh Henry, I know that, but you need to talk to Regina soon okay? Tell her that you're sorry and maybe you and she can work together. Give her a chance. Okay?"
"Okay," he said sniffing and then his eyes landed on the package Ruby was still holding. "I'll go see her tomorrow." He paused for a moment. "You're really going over to see her tonight?"
"Yep . She's cooking me dinner for helping her pack up her office. Plus I'm going to see what I can do to help get our wandering hero's back."
"Cool," Henry said happily. "You really bought a new dress?"
"Yeah, although your mom may get mad. She told me to wear pants." She grinned as Henry giggled.
"Hey Ruby," David greeted as he stepped up beside Henry and frowned at the tear tracks on the boys cheeks. "Everything okay here?"
"Yeah," Henry said immediately not wanting to get Ruby in trouble.
"Great. Well, be careful tonight Ruby" David said, not entirely joking.
"There's no need," Ruby replied and walked away, suppressing the irritation that flared at the unwarranted warning. The other benefit to the Queen's curse was that she had been able to forget how unforgiving and judgmental the 'good' people of the Enchanted Forest could be.
Regina jumped when she heard the doorbell. She mentally scolded herself for being so anxious. It was just Ruby Lucas for crying out loud. A mere waitress at the local diner who was just coming over for an innocent thank you dinner. A very young waitress, Regina's conscious threw in. Plus she had no doubt this was simply a pity visit and Regina damned herself that she had reached the point where she was willing to take it.
Regina took a quick look in the mirror belatedly questioning her choice of attire. She had originally planned to remain in the slacks and blouse she'd been wearing earlier but then to her own amazement, she realized she didn't want to intimidate Ruby or make her feel as if the Queen /Mayor had summoned her. So, taking a chance, she had changed into a pair of her yoga pants and a white t-shirt hoping it would set a relaxing tone for whatever this night was truly about. .
"You're very prompt Miss…" Regina's greeting died in her throat as her eyes took in the woman standing on her doorstep.
Instead of the painted on jeans and midriff bearing top Regina had been expecting, Ruby was dressed in a very elegant and sophisticated black dress that hugged her figure as if it had been designed just for her. The hem ended mid thigh, although it actually hid more than the micro mini-skirts she often wore. Her red tinted hair had been pulled back in a tight bun and her make-up was lightly done and a quiet contrast to the pseudo-goth look she usually wore. For the first time Regina was able to see just what a remarkably beautiful woman Ruby Lucas was.
"Cat got your tongue?" Ruby laughed nervously even as her knees trembled violently waiting for some snide remark.
"Apparently so," Regina acknowledged, unable to come up with a single scathing remark. "You look very…you look beautiful," she just admitted.
"Thank you," Ruby replied with a rare hint of embarrassment and then she noticed Regina's clothes and her own tongue went missing. She, nor anyone else for all Ruby knew, had ever seen Regina in anything aside from her severe business suites or the rich ornate gowns she wore as Queen. Now the always stylishly dressed Regina mills was standing there looking hotter than hot in workout pants, running shoes with a white t-shirt that was so snug it might as well have been second skin and it was almost painful to move her eyes back up to knowing dark eyes.
"I think I'm underdressed," Regina commented awkwardly even though her entire body was buzzing from the heated perusal it had just undergone.
"Hardly," Ruby muttered before dragging her mind out of the gutter. "You look great" she added, wishing she had the same graceful way with words that Regina did.
"Please come in, I just placed the food on the table," Regina said with amusement at Ruby's unexpected shyness.
"Ok, I…oh wait, I brought wine. I left it in the car."
Regina waited as Ruby quickly walked to the car which looked to be in as good of condition as Emma's yellow monstrosity.
"I'm relieved you chose not to bring the boxed variety," Regina stated drily. The chardonnay Ruby had selected was an excellent choice, but Regina was simply unable to resist the urge to aggravate the woman. She considered it a bit of a test. Unsurprisingly, Ruby didn't bother to rise to the bait, simply smirking in response.
"Of course not, I wanted to save the good stuff for me," Ruby quipped, feeling an inexplicable sense of triumph at the genuine gleam of amusement in Regina's eyes as she gestured for Ruby to enter her home.
Wow," Ruby said in awe as she looked around. "This is beautiful."
"Thank you," Regina replied trying not to think of how much the large home seemed to echo without the presence of her son running through the halls. "That really is beautiful dress," she continued, noticing how the thin vein of red seemed to shift within the black material as Ruby moved. It was fascinating. "It becomes you very well."
"Thank you. I saw it in the window at Dora's and it was as if I was compelled to buy it. And before you say it, yes I'm aware it's not the kind of thing I normally wear."
"I wouldn't think of saying anything," Regina lied, drawing a smirk from Ruby.
"Oh no, of course not." she drawled sarcastically.
Regina sighed. "Has anyone suggested that you and Emma Swan may be soul mates?" she muttered even as she wondered if she'd be able to withstand two women who had the playful natures of a ten year old. Still, something about their ability to simply let go and enjoy life was…admirable and though she'd never admit it, she often envied that about them.
"You miss her, don't you?" Ruby asked carefully.
"I suppose I do," Regina admitted after a moment. "Though if you repeat that to her or anyone else, I'll turn you into a garden gnome."
Ruby wasn't entirely sure the woman was teasing but she grinned anyway. "Duly noted and I miss her too and Snow."
Regina merely hmphed at that. She could admit that her life was a lot duller without Emma Swan around but she wasn't sure of what she truly felt about Snow being trapped in the other world, so she simply led the way to the large formal dining room.
Ruby was surprised to see Regina had set a beautiful table which Ruby considered a bit extravagant for just the two of them, but then again everything about the woman she was with was extravagant. It struck Ruby as a bit odd that she was the one painfully over dressed for a change.
"Have a seat while I get a cork screw," Regina said politely, somewhat ashamed to realize she'd expected a twist cap. Perhaps she had misjudged the young woman.
Ruby chuckled as Regina predictably left before she could reply and she took a seat trying not to feel too awkward.
Within a minute, Regina returned with the bottle opener and with a remarkably graceful move had the cork out and was pouring the wine.
"This looks delicious," Ruby commented as she waited for Regina to take her seat. "Salmon?"
"Yes. I saw this recipe for Ginger Salmon and potato wedges online and thought I would try it."
"So that would make me your guinea pig then?" Ruby asked with an innocence belied by the mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"Why I guess it does. Bon appetite," Regina replied casually as she picked up her fork and began to eat, enjoying the fact she seemed to have burst Ruby's playful bubble.
Dinner was surprisingly enjoyable for both women. Conversation was kept innocuous and consisted primarily of Ruby filling Regina on the state of Storybrooke and it's inhabitants via her legendary gossiping skills and Regina found herself laughing more at Ruby's embellishments than anything else. And even though both knew there were important things to talk about, but both were reluctant to ruin the almost pleasant mood.
The one moment that had Ruby sure that she was about to be physically thrown from the house, if not magically beaten to a pulp came after they had both finished and were sipping their wine before clearing the table.
"I saw Henry today," she blurted, cringing at the mixture of fear and hope that flashed in the dark eyes.
"You did?" Regina hoped her voice sounded as indifferent as she intended. The pain of Henry's latest rejection was still sitting heavy on her heart. Judging by the sympathetic expression on Ruby's face, she failed.
"Yeah. I uh…and you're probably going to get mad but… I had just finished buying my dress and ran into Henry and James. He asked what I was doing and I…well I told him."
Regina fought back the urge to snap at the other brunette for discussing her private business. "How. Is he?" she asked instead.
Ruby saw the sadness once again in Regina's eyes and even knowing it was most likely going piss of the volatile and decidedly dangerous woman, Regina had the right to know about her conversation with Henry. Especially that he felt bad about what he did.
"He's fine. He um…he's sorry about what he did today," she said cautiously, staring at her empty wine glass, waiting for the explosion. When it didn't come, Ruby knew it was worse than she'd expected. "He didn't deliberately set out to hurt you," she continued hurriedly before Regina could say anything. "He was just trying to help David and his getting you out of the office was what the 'good guys' do in those movies he watches. He didn't even consider the meanness of it."
"Wait, what?" Regina asked shaking her head, hoping she'd heard wrong. "Are you…did tell him I was upset about what happened?"
Ruby swallowed, the quiet calmness of Regina's voice was more threatening than had she shouted at her.
"Well yeah."
"You had no right," Regina accused, still not raising her voice even as she felt the familiar rage wash over her. It was an over reaction and she knew it was, but she couldn't help it. The humiliation, the rejection and the pain were still raw and she couldn't stand the thought of her own son pitying her.
"I know," Ruby agreed anxiously, "but Regina, I couldn't not say anything. He's a great kid but he just sees everything going on as some sort of game where everything is black and white or good and evil. You know that better than anyone. The thing is, aside from you, everyone seems okay with that but he's putting himself and others in danger and he doesn't know it."
Regina knew Ruby was right, but as a mother, it infuriated her to have this single, morally questionable, childless female lecturing her son. "How dare you," she snarled. "What could you possibly know about …"
"I know Regina," Ruby interrupted, the pain of her reality lodging in her throat. "I told him that while everyone else was excited about the curse breaking, I would give anything if it hadn't been.
Regina couldn't hide the surprise at that revelation. "Why?"
Ruby shrugged and tried to act as if it didn't matter, but the frown on Regina's face told her she wasn't entirely successful. "Because, by breaking it, I'm now forced to once again become a monster during every full moon and I have no idea if I'm still able to control it like before. Plus, there's the added benefit of getting to remember all the horrible things I've done and the innocent people I've killed. Including…" No, she wouldn't say his name, it was still too painful.
Regina saw the anguish in Ruby's face and it doused her anger instantly. She hadn't thought of the curse benefitting anyone. In fact she'd counted on it that, but she finally let herself consider the woman in front of her. As Queen she made sure she knew everything about all of her subjects. It made them easier to control so she had not only known Ruby was the wolf terrorizing the forest, but that while she'd been transformed she'd killed the man she loved after tying him up to protect him. She felt an unaccustomed wave of sympathy go through her. "I'm sorry Ruby," she said simply, beginning to accept that maybe this woman could understand her and the darkness that lived inside of her as well.
"Yeah, me too. And I'm sorry that I overstepped by talking to Henry, but he really does feel bad and he said he'll call you tomorrow."
Regina refused to give into the hope that fluttered through her. She could only stand so much more rejection before she finally gave into the darkness that was never far from the surface so it was best that she never set herself up to fall.
"This is excellent wine," she finally said, making no effort to change the subject gracefully.
Ruby grinned. "And the dinner was really good. Maybe next time I'll cook for you," she offered cautiously.
"I never pegged you for the domestic type," Regina said in a tone that could have been taken as derisive. Ruby however saw the amused glint in her eyes and grinned.
"Oh I daresay there are many things you don't know about me Ms. Mills," Ruby practically purred as she let the wine ease her nerves and loosen her tongue, "which I'm hoping to rectify this evening."
Regina blinked as she found herself the recipient of one of Ruby Lucas's legendary sultry looks. It was a potent and very tempting expression and Regina didn't want to think about what would happen if she took up the challenge. Suddenly a thought occurred to her.
"Is that why you helped me today and why you're dressed like that? Planning to seduce some sort of secret plot out of the Evil Queen?" She asked suspiciously and then instantly wish she hadn't when she saw the embarrassed look on the pretty face.
"I…no," Ruby lied and then got to her feet and gathered the plates to take to the kitchen, all the while cursing her stupidity.
"Sit down Miss Lucas," Regina ordered quietly, reaching out and placing a hand on the woman's forearm to stop her. She refused to acknowledge the silky skin and the firm muscles under her fingertips.
"I'd rather not," Ruby said quietly. "In fact this was probably a stupid idea and I should just…um…go."
To her irritation, Regina realized she wasn't as amused as she thought she'd be at seeing the woman's embarrassment. "Oh no, we're not finished."
Ruby considered telling the bossy woman where she could stick her orders but found herself sitting back down with argument. "Fine. I guess the answer to your question is not exactly. "
"Thank you for not clearing that up dear," Regina drawled.
Ruby rolled her eyes. "God you're obnoxious," she muttered playfully. "No, I'm not hear to seduce you out of anything, unless you want me to."
Regina let her eyes drift once more over the sultry young woman sitting across from her, feeling the power of seduction flow through her once more. It had been a very long time. However, if she'd learned anything while living in Storybrooke it was the value of patience. If she wanted Ruby Lucas, she would have her, but on her terms.
"Ms. Lucas..."
Ruby swallowed. "Please call me Red…or Ruby and honestly, I don't want anything from you and there is no hidden motive behind my outfit. I just… I guess I just wanted to show you that what you see isn't always what you get with me. Kind of like you."
Regina was briefly shocked into silence. She'd always suspected the werewolf-slash-trashy waitress was a bit of a dark horse, but apparently she had underestimated Ruby Lucas's capacity for a more serious nature.
"Why are you really here?" Regina asked bluntly. "What exactly do you get out of befriending me?"
"Nothing," Ruby answered just as bluntly. "As I said, I don't see the curse as a bad thing for me. Not only did I get a life without becoming a monster, but I got to stay with Granny." She paused as she realized how odd that was. "Why did we get to stay together by the way?"
Regina shrugged. "I don't really know. I didn't design the curse, but perhaps something within it recognized you are a young woman who shouldn't be left to your own devices."
Ruby laughed. "I suppose that's as good an explanation as any, but still pretty fanciful for an Evil Queen."
Regina had no idea why she hadn't thrown the woman out of her home or why she found her lips twitching with repressed amusement. "And you're pretty mouthy for someone who's in the 'clutches' of said Evil Queen."
Ruby just laughed harder, not the least bit intimidated. Having finally seen past the snark and ten miles thick barriers surrounding the prickly former Mayor, Ruby saw her toughness for what it was.
"Yeah, you're not so evil," she said after she'd stopped laughing.
"No?" Regina lifted an eyebrow casually, even though her throat tightened at that.
"Nope. You and I both know that there are truly evil people in this world and the other. People who get off on power and hurting other people. Then there are people who are filled with so much pain and have no idea how to release it. I don't think you really enjoy hurting people. Not even Snow."
"Oh really?" Regina said tightly. "That's quite presumptuous, considering you know nothing about me."
Ruby saw the way Regina stiffened and knew she was pushing her luck. "Maybe, but at the risk of being turned into a gnat, you're not quite as hard to read as you think you are. As I used to think you were."
"I beg your pardon?" Regina felt the familiar anger and defensiveness start to well up inside and at this point she welcomed it. Ruby Lucas was threatening her hard won composure and she wasn't going to have it.
"Relax Regina," Ruby said carefully, regretting the walls were going back up. "You're right, I don't know anything about you, but I'd like to." She took the fact that she wasn't immediately incinerated as a good signed. "I won't push though," she added as she saw the almost horrified expression on the deeply private woman's face. "I just…I know the dark pain of loss when I see it Regina. I used to see it in the mirror every morning after I'd woken up naked with no memory of the night before and blood all over me and I expect I'll be seeing it again at the next full moon…unless I'm chained up."
Regina wasn't sure what to say to that. The thought of this young, vibrant and fiercely independent woman being put in chains was incredibly disturbing. "Do you not have your cloak?"
"No and Gold says he doesn't have it, though I trust him about as far as I can throw him."
"I don't know Miss…Ruby, Gold is very specific about the things he chooses to hide from people and, no offense, but what could you have that would induce him to keep your cloak from you?"
Ruby sighed. "Nothing that I know of and I guess I should be relieved to not be important enough to have Gold's attention but I don't like being without my cloak."
"You're unable to control the change?" Regina couldn't help but be intrigued by Ruby's lycanthropic alter ego.
For the first time that she could remember, Ruby didn't feel shame when talking about her other half. "I don't know. I had finally learned to control it before the curse hit. I don't know what effect being dormant these last twenty eight years will have. Or if the change will even happen the same."
"I am sorry about that," Regina said softly. She couldn't even begin to imagine what living as a Shapeshifter was like for anyone, much less someone like Ruby. "I…well I've promised Henry that I wouldn't use my magic anymore, but I think I can perhaps help replace the cloak you lost or find something else that could serve the same purpose."
"You'd break a promise to Henry? To help me?" Ruby didn't know what to make of that.
"You seem surprised. I thought breaking my promises was one of my better known attributes," Regina muttered not able to keep the bitterness from her voice.
"Quite the opposite," Ruby replied seriously. "For good or bad, nobody in town doubts you're a woman of your word. Especially when it comes to Henry."
Regina found herself inexplicably unnervedby the semi-compliment. "Yes well if there's something that you would like to have enchanted…another cloak perhaps?"
Ruby felt her heart flutter at the extremely rare flash of self consciousness from the always cocky woman. "God no," she said dramatically. "I hated that thing not to mention every other piece of clothing I had to wear as a woman in the Enchanted forest. Especially the corsets. I guess that's another thing I'm grateful to you for."
"Yes I've noticed you definitely took advantage of the more…liberal attire in this world," Regina said drily. "Why?"
Ruby was definitely surprised by the question. "Why what?" she prevaricated.
"Come now Ruby, you're not dense. You're a naturally beautiful young woman. Why do you feel the need to dress like a…well…" Regina paused, unable to utter the word that sprung to mind.
"Hooker?" Ruby asked, with a grin.
"Yes. Why do you do that?"
Ruby found she wasn't as insulted as she probably should have been. "I don't know. I've been dressing that way for as long as I can remember."
Regina sipped her wine and studied the puzzling woman. "There wasn't a time when you grew tired of displaying yourself for the men to ogle?"
Ruby grinned. "Now, now, your Majesty, I remember seeing you once or twice in the other world and you weren't exactly hiding your…attributes," she teased letting her eyes drift down to the lovely expanse of cleavage currently on display in the almost size too small, V-neck t-shirt Regina was wearing. Good God, she thought once again.
Regina shivered at the look in Ruby's eyes as they roamed over her and she was startled by what looked to be a golden flash in the dark eyes. She knew Ruby was an infamous flirt, but had not expected the younger woman to practice her talents on her. She thought it was time she showed the waitress the dangers of playing with fire.
"Oh my dear Ruby, you have no idea.," she said in the low voice she used to seduce her prey. "You have yet to see my…favorite outfit."
"Oh yeah?" Ruby asked breathlessly, a multitude of images racing through her mind, each more revealing than the last.
"Yes. I had this lovely pair of soft leather pants that I have to admit were far tighter than were actually practical. My maid and I had to work remarkably close together simply to slide them over my hips." Regina barely held back a grin at the rapt attention on Ruby's face. "There were also the knee high leather boots and a black and blood red leather corset designed to…emphasize my attributes. For purely professional reasons of course."
"Of course," Ruby choked.
"It's amazing how quickly I could get what I wanted simply from leaning forward, like this." Regina placed her elbow on the table and leaned forward, knowing the neckline of the t-shirt would give the brunette quite an eyeful.
"Yeah Amazing," Ruby managed. Suddenly the tantalizing glimpse of full breasts coupled with the image of the woman across from her poured into what amounted to a tight dominatrix outfit had her mouth painfully dry and she picked up her wine and tossed it back, resulting in a spectacular choking fit.
Regina chuckled softly as she reached out to pat Ruby's back until she stopped coughing. "Are you alright? I would have sworn you could hold your liquor better than that."
Ruby took a moment to catch her breath and nearly lost it again when she looked into amused dark eyes. "Well Jesus Regina," she stopped having no idea how to finish that sentence. "God, I don't know how you could ever feel you needed to be evil. You could have anyone eating out of your hand just by looking at them." She meant it as a compliment but the way Regina stiffened and the amusement faded from her eyes had Ruby regretting her words instantly.
"I think maybe it's time for you to leave," Regina said stiffly getting to her feet.
"Regina, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded," she pleaded.
"Just how did you mean it?" Knowing she really had no justification for being offended, all things considered, Regina sat back down.
Ruby felt her face heat and wondered when she'd ever blushed so much. She took a deep breath and told herself to stop being such a puss. She always spoke her mind and wouldn't stop now. "I just meant that you're a ridiculously sexy woman that could have men or women doing anything you wanted just by turning your eyes on them."
The air sort of went out of Regina's sails at that. She'd heard similar compliments before but she simply ignored them. Looks were simply a means to an end but the honesty and the flicker of desire in Ruby's eyes were different and left her feeling befuddled.. "Oh. Well, thank you," she managed and retook her seat.
"I don't think you're evil Regina. I mean, that would make me a hypocrite wouldn't it?"
"How so?"
Ruby shrugged. "Both of us have a…darkness, a monster living inside of us, that drives us to do unspeakable things. I can't condemn you for things I'm just as guilty of doing."
Regina stared at the woman as if she'd never seen her before. To think this woman she'd spent so many years belittling was actually sitting there saying how alike they were. Even Snow and the rest of the 'good people' of Storybrooke who'd lied, murdered and stolen, not to mention the way they treated their children, denied their actions or justified them in the name of 'goodness'.
"Well, I have to say that you've surprised me," she finally admitted. "And considering I find most people painfully predictable, you can imagine that I'm a bit at a loss."
"Regina Mills speechless? I should sell tickets."
Regina narrowed her eyes. "Really Miss Lucas?"
"Sorry," Ruby said without even a hint of remorse.
"Be that as it may," Regina continued as if she hadn't been interrupted, "while I appreciate the sentiment, you're wrong. Yes we both have a darkness inside of us that was put there by either nature or…other means, however you are unable to control what you do when that darkness overtakes you. Nothing that happens while you are in your lycanthropic form is your fault Ruby, though I didn't know you were able to remember."
"I didn't…back in the other world, but since the curse broke, I've been having these dreams and memories…I guess it has to be the wonky way magic works here."
"Oh god," Regina said sadly. She had to live with what she'd done every day, but she'd accepted that when she set down the path of revenge. Ruby, however, had never asked for any of it. She was an innocent who had her own curse thrust upon her. The only relief being that she never remembered what she'd done. But now…for the first time in decades, Regina felt her heart hurt for someone else and she swore she'd do what she could to keep her from suffering more than absolutely necessary.
"Hey it's okay. I'll deal with it," Ruby assured her with a smile hoping to lighten the mood again. "Just as you will deal with everything that I suspect has been thrown at you."
"That's hardly encouraging," Regina drawled, though she felt a reluctant smile lifting her lips even as she began gathering their plates.
"Let me wash these," Ruby said reaching out to help. And as if pulled from a clichéd chick flick, her hands brushed Regina's and her breath stopped in her throat. She wasn't going to pretend she didn't know what it was. It was desire, pure and simple and hell, who wouldn't desire Regina Mills. The woman was the very definition of sexy from her exotic dark looks to the body that was just all kinds of perfect. However it was the sheer magnetism that poured off of her in waves and it was pummeling Ruby like a tidal wave.
"You shouldn't look at me like that dear," Regina said softly, willing her racing heart to settle down.
Ruby briefly considered playing ignorant, but decided what the hell. She was a werewolf for crying out loud, she could face a mere evil sorceress. "I do a lot of things I shouldn't," she said, letting her fingers brush over the back of Regina's hand. So soft, she thought totally bemused.
"That doesn't surprise me," Regina said, trying to keep her emotions in check. It had been so long since anyone had dared flirt innocently with her. "You have trouble written all over you."
Ruby grinned proudly as if given a great compliment. "Oh but you haven't seen all of me."
"Your choice of attire disguises very little," Regina replied blithely as she gently removed her hand. This situation was growing way out of scope of what she'd thought it would be.
"So you've noticed then," Ruby continued to tease, both intimidated and turned on by the dangerous glint in the dark eyes looking back at her. Jesus this woman was sexy. The fact that she didn't seem to care was an even bigger turn on.
Regina took a deep breath, fighting every instinct she had to simply take what the woman was so clearly offering. She was trying to redeem herself and seducing the more innocent than she led people to believe young woman was not going to help in that effort. "Miss Lucas, while this has been fairly entertaining, I'm afraid I'm not available to be one of your little dalliances," she said simply, needing to squash the desire she saw flickering in the brunette's eyes and ignoring regret that filled the hurt on the pretty face.
"I resent that," Ruby said coldly. "I know you think I'm some raging slut, but…"
"Despite the way you dress or what I may insinuate, I don't think you're promiscuous," Regina found herself admitting, "but you are a very young woman that enjoys flirting and I'm simply past that stage in my life."
Ruby blinked and then laughed. "God, you sound like you should be in a nursing home somewhere. You're never too old to engage in a little flirting and I'm far from being a child. In case you haven't noticed."
Regina cocked her head and let her eyes move rom the always smiling dark eyes, down to smiling lips that were framed by deep creases that begged to be touched or kissed and then lower over the neckline of Ruby's unusual dress that while surprisingly modest, still managed to emphasize the voluptuous beauty it tried to contain.
"Oh I've noticed," Regina murmured, her voice coming out raspier than she wanted. "That, however, is irrelevant. I'm not doing this."
"Doing what?" Ruby asked with an innocence belied by the amusement flickering in her dark eyes.
"Coy doesn't become you dear," Regina said bluntly.
"Alright fine. One of the things I've always respected about you is your honesty, even if it is brutal sometimes, so I should follow your example," Ruby took a deep breath, not intimidated in the least by the stubborn glare coming from the other woman.
"I swear that my only motivation in wanting to have dinner with you was to .. I guess, get to know you and let you know that there's at least one person who sort of understands you…or part of you," she corrected when she saw the imperious lifting of the Queen's eyebrow. "And I thought you would like some help trying to find out how to get Emma and Mary Margaret back. That was my only intention, I promise."
Regina studied Ruby for a moment, the pure honesty in her eyes was as endearing as it was unsettling. "By 'was' I'm assuming that your intentions have changed?"
"Now who's being coy," Ruby smirked. "You know very well they have."
"And you know very well that what you have in mind is out of the question," Regina said stubbornly.
Ruby shrugged. "I can be very persistent."
"I'm quite tempted to make a comment regarding dogs and bones," Regina muttered, relieved and a bit dismayed that Ruby didn't take offense.
"And I could make one regarding tender, juicy pieces of meat, but then you'd slap my face and then where would we be?"
"Well you're welcome to try and find out," Regina replied casually as she began to gather the plates.
Ruby just laughed and got to her feet. "Let me help," she offered.
"That's not necessary. "I had most of the dishes washed before you arrived so these few things won't take long."
"Of course you did," Ruby murmured as she followed Regina into the kitchen, not even attempt to pretend she wasn't admiring the fit of the older woman's yoga pants.
"There is nothing wrong with being efficient Ms. Lucas, however it is considered impolite to ogle."
Ruby felt her cheeks heat at being caught, especially as the annoying woman hadn't even turned around, but she refused to apologize. "Admiring, Ms. Mills, not ogling," she pointed out, keeping her eyes right where they were. "And you've never accused me of being polite."
Despite herself, Regina found herself chuckling at the younger woman's unashamed flirtation, not to mention enjoying it. She knew she was an attractive woman. She'd made sure of it, not out of some inane sense of vanity that Henry's book would imply, but because it was the surest way to ensure she always got what she wanted. People, be them men or women, were inherently shallow and show them a bit of exaggerated cleavage and their brains went south, making them malleable. Still it had been a very long time since someone bothered to see past their own fear and lust to the woman inside. Whether or not Ruby Lucas was one of those had yet to be seen.
"Tell me Ruby," she said as she filled the sink with soapy water and began to wash the plates before placing them in the dishwasher, "would you have been so quick to help me yesterday or so easy with the seductive compliments if I were forty pounds heavier and plainer?"
Ruby hadn't been expecting that. To anyone else, the question would have sounded almost conceited but she knew that wasn't where always blunt woman was coming from and she could do nothing but be honest with her.
"Would I have helped you? Yeah, I'd like to think so. I don't like to see anyone hurting," Ruby answered sincerely. Now for the hard part. "Would I have bought this dress or hit on you like I have tonight?" she paused, not particularly liking what the question and her answer was going to reveal about herself. "I honestly don't know," she said quietly. "To be honest, probably not."
Regina sighed. "I didn't think so, but I admit I do respect your honesty."
Ruby walked across the kitchen to lean against the counter next to Regina. "I know, I sound like a shallow bitch and I'm not exactly happy about that. But I would like to believe and I do believe that I would still want the chance to get to know you and even if I was too stupid to catch on immediately, I have no doubt I would still find myself attracted to you."
Regina turned and glared at the young woman who had most o f Storybrooke slobbering over her. She liked to believe her ability to detect a lie was at least as reliable as Emma Swan's and from what she could see, Ruby meant what she said and somehow Regina wasn't really surprised by the realization.
"That's a lovely thought dear. There all done," Regina announced, clearly indicating the subject was closed. "People may say what they want, but personally I do love the conveniences of this world."
Ruby gracefully accepted the change of subject mainly because she's not sure who'd actually won that little debate. "Yeah. I have no doubt that if you told them today that the Enchanted Forest was fully restored and you could send them back, most of the people here wouldn't go."
"You'd be surprised," Regina said darkly.
"Well, I'll admit there are a few people here I'd gladly send back over if only we could get Snow and Emma back," Ruby said her thoughts turning toward her lost friends.
"Ah and a surprisingly smooth segue into the business part of the evening," Regina smirked, pouring the rest of the wine Ruby had brought and leading the young woman into the study, well aware of where the vivacious brunette's eyes had wandered once again.
TBC…