Belle stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hand gripped the white fabric tightly as she turned from side to side, admiring how it fell around her. She smiled. In just a few days she would be married. Married to the only person she ever truly loved.

"Oh, Belle, you look beautiful!" Snow gushed, clasping her hands together. She stepped closer. "That dress is gorgeous."

Belle looked at her, the smile never fading from her lips. "You think Ruby will like it?"

Snow nodded. "She's going to love it." She smiled brightly at her. "You're going to have an amazing life together."

"That is the plan." Belle huffed a small laugh as her smile slowly faded. She looked at Snow, her brow drawn together in question. She sat down on her large bed, doing her best not to wrinkle the fabric of her dress. "Snow, may I ask you something?"

"Of course," Snow replied as she sat down next to her. She looked at her concerned as she took Belle's hand in her own. "What is it?"

Belle hesitated for a moment, biting gently down on her lip. "Are there strippers in Storybrooke?"

Snow looked stunned by her inquiry. "Strip ... wh – I – " she stammered before the realization hit her. A small grin formed on her lips and she raised an eyebrow. "This is about Ruby's party, isn't it?"

Belle lowered her head, slightly embarrassed. She nodded slowly.

"Oh, sweetheart, you have nothing to worry about." She wrapped an arm around her, squeezing gently. "Ruby isn't into that sort of thing." She paused, her brow furrowing. "Well, maybe when we were cursed, but that's neither here nor there…"

Belle looked up quickly, her jaw slacked. "Snow, that's not helping!"

"I'm sorry ... I'm sorry..." she chuckled, hugging her again. She pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "You have nothing to worry about; I promise." She touched her chin. "And if Emma does anything she's not supposed to, I'll ground her."

Belle made a face. "She's twenty-eight years old, Snow. I don't think you can ground her."

Snow released a small laugh as she spoke. "Oh, I can ground her." She looked away for a moment. "Then again, I tried that when she started dating Regina and she just looked at me like I was insane." She shook her head. "Anyway, just know that you can trust Ruby. She's not going to do anything to hurt you or hurt what you have."

"I do trust her." She looked down at her hands. "It's just ... the thought of another woman touching her in anyway makes me want to…" She grunted angrily and returned her attention to Snow. "You know what I mean?"

Snow smiled. "I know exactly what you mean." She patted her hand. "But not to worry, I honestly don't think I've ever seen that type of dancer around here." Her brow furrowed again. "Unless Leroy knows a guy…"

"Snow!"

"Sorry! Sorry!"


Ruby closed her eyes as she rolled her neck. Every day at the Diner seemed to get longer. With work, planning a wedding, and having to put a stop to any shenanigans Emma and Leroy had planned for her party, she was exhausted. She sighed heavily as she walked slowly up the stairs to the bedroom.

"Belle, baby, I'm home," she called out as she slowly climbed the stairs.

"Ruby?"

She paused, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Yeah, who else calls you baby?" She smirked, taking another step. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Very funny! But honestly, don't come up here yet!"

She paused again as she listened closely. She could hear Belle's hurried footsteps stomping across the bedroom floor. "Babe, I can hear you running around!" She continued on her way. "Are you trying to hide someone or are you just trying to freak me out?"

"Please, don't come up here!"

Ruby sighed. "I'm seriously exhausted, Belle. I just want to lie down." She walked one step further. "I promise I won't look at ... whatever it is you're doing. I'll most likely land face-first on the bed and pass out."

She could still hear Belle running around. The sound of doors slamming closed soon followed. She took the final step into the room and walked inside. Her attention immediately went to Belle whose back was pressed against the closet door. She looked flushed and she had a small smile on her lips.

"Hi..." she greeted breathlessly.

Ruby looked her at suspiciously as she removed her jacket. "Hi…" she responded slowly. She tossed her jacket on the chair. "What's in the closet?"

"My other girlfriend," Belle teased as Ruby flashed her an unamused look. She chuckled and pushed herself away from the doors. She walked over to her fiancé, wrapping her arms around her neck. "How was your day?"

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Don't change the subject. What's in the closet?"

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." She leaned up to kiss her lips, but Ruby moved her head back. Belle pouted. "Really? You're not going to kiss me until I tell you what's in there?"

"That is correct." She grinned. "What's in the closet?"

"Can't I just have one secret?"

Ruby shook her head. "Nope. What's in the closet?"

Belle sighed. "My wedding dress."

"Really? Can I see it?" Ruby asked excitedly.

"NO!" Belle protested quickly. "It's bad luck."

Ruby pouted this time. "Fine..." She leaned in to kiss her love when her cellphone started to ring. She kissed her quickly as she pulled the phone from her pocket. She rolled her eyes and brought the phone to her ear. "No," she said flatly.

Belle looked confused. "Who is it?"

She placed her hand over the phone. "Emma," she whispered as she moved her hand. "Okay, okay, that's fine. But no to the pole dancers." She placed her hand over her face. "I understand they won't be sitting on anyone's lap, but…" She paused as she saw Belle staring at her, jaw slacked, eyes wide. "Emma, I'm going to have to call you back." She hung up. "Baby…"

"Pole dancers? How are those different from Strippers?"

Ruby shrugged a shoulder. "Apparently, they don't give lap dances." She immediately regretted her response when she watched the unamused expression cross her loves features. She reached out, holding her shoulders. "Baby, I said no. You heard me."

Belle nodded. "I know." She looked into her eyes. "I just don't understand why they insist on not listening to you." She tilted her head. "Snow said if Emma doesn't listen, she's going to ground her."

Ruby chuckled. "I'd like to see that happen." She wrapped her arms around Belle's waist, pulling her close. "I honestly can't wait for this party to be over so I can be one step closer to spending the rest of my life with you."

Belle's features softened. She slipped her arms around Ruby once again, a seductive smile playing on her lips. "Exactly how exhausted are you?" she purred as she leaned in and kissed her neck.

Ruby's eyes closed at the contact. She swallowed hard as Belle's lips gently brushed against her neck. "You know what…" she responded, her tone low. "Suddenly, I'm wide awake..."

She tightened her grip around Belle's waist and lifted her from the floor. Belle let out a small screech mixed with laughter as she was dropped onto the bed. Ruby smiled down at her, brushing her fingertips gently over her love's beautiful face before leaning in and taking her lips with her own.