Author's Note
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The past week Ruby had been able to sneak off with Gold unnoticed. She would work all day or night, then disappear to practice with Gold, she hadn't time to even talk with anyone outside of taking orders. They would meet at either, his shop or, occasionally in the woods while he tried to help her gain a better understanding of magic and practice wielding it. Her quick progression did not escape Gold's notice. Though she seemed to have hit a brick wall, recently struggling to progress any further.
"Argh! I'm not getting anywhere!" Ruby said as she tried to summon a large fireball in her hand.
Gold had chosen a place in the woods far away from town and secluded enough so that passers-by wouldn't come across them.
'I have get this! Peter. Just think of Peter.' Ruby was shaking from trying so furiously hard to maintain the flame into a substantial form.
Gold intervened by grasping her left shoulder and right wrist from behind. She felt his breath warmly on her neck and ear, barely registering it through her frustration. "Stop it. You're not going to get any further if you keep this up."
"No. I can do this! I just need to try again!" She said through heavy pants and gritted teeth.
"He's right, you know."
Hearing an ask too familiar voice both of their attention was drawn to an approaching figure about 10 feet in front of Ruby.
'Regina?' Ruby thought. Her mind still dazed from over exertion.
Dropping his hold on Ruby, Gold smugly replied, "I don't remember inviting you here."
Continuing to step closer to him, Regina continued, "I'm the Queen and last I checked I didn't need your permission." She locked her hard gaze on him with crossed arms, conveying a very imposing demeanor that would have made a weaker man cower.
Snorting at the once ruling queen, Gold then paused for a moment in thought. Turning to Ruby he said, "Take some time to clear your head, Miss Lucas, because, unless you can progress through this, I have no further desire to waste my time."
*Poof*
He left, leaving Ruby extremely frustrated.
"Arrggh! How am I supposed to learn if you're not going to help me!" She yelled to the vanishing cloud of red tinged smoke.
Regina watched her as she grit her teeth whilst barring them, making her look much like the wolf she was.
She unconsciously let out a slight growl in her frustration.
'If was anyone else I might be actually afraid. It's amazing how this beautiful young woman is the vicious wolf that decimated my armies.' Regina thought to herself while taking in Ruby's sharp features.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply Ruby seemed to be calming down. She slowly closed her eyes and just breathed. Regina could visibly see the tension fading from the other woman's relaxing muscles. After a moment Ruby began to sway, as if to fall. Regina quickly extended her hand to catch a hold of Ruby's upper arm to support her.
"Woah, are you alright?" Regina asked. Her eyes betrayed deep unexplainable concern. As soon as she grabbed her, they locked eyes, which gave Ruby the opportunity to glance Regina's concern ridden expression.
Standing back on her own to support all of her weight properly, Ruby flashed a smile. 'Hm, her smile almost looks as fake as mine does when I'm around the Charmings.'
"I'm fine." After she spoke those words, rain began to fall from the cloudy sky above almost betraying the falsity behind Ruby's words.
"My car is not parked far from here. You can ride back to town with me." Regina said as she walked off with Ruby in tow.
Regina pulled into town. The trip was rather uneventful, as it was filled with an overwhelming silence.
"Henry is getting out of school about now. Would you mind if I pick him up?" Regina asked Ruby. 'Am I actually asking her permission? I'm not quite sure how to tell her to get out of my car.'
"No, not at all." Ruby said, her voice still tinged with sadness. "You can just drop me off there."
"Mom!" Henry said as he threw his arms around Regina. She hugged him back and ruffled his hair.
"Let's get home and I'll make some dinner."
Henry broke away from his mother walking over to Ruby and giving her a hug which she happily returned. "How are ya kid?"
"I'm doing pretty good. What about you?"
Regina smiled at the easy conversation between the two. 'I suppose some things don't change. Curse, or, no curse Ruby and Henry have always had a special relationship.'
"I'm fine. Well, besides being hungry." Ruby said with a jovial tone.
Henry excitedly turned back to his mother. "Mom! Can Ruby come over for dinner?"
Taken by surprise Regina replied, "Um, well, I suppose if she would like to."
Henry turned expectantly to Ruby. "Uh..." She paused, but upon seeing Henry's face she knew she could not say no. "Sure."
"Great!" He said getting in the car.
After they finished up supper Regina put her hands on Henry's shoulders looking at home lovingly. "It's time for you to go to bed. You have school tomorrow."
With a sigh he agreed. "Okay. Goodnight mom. Goodnight Ruby."
"Goodnight." They both replied as he went up to his room.
Now they were both rather unsure of what they should do.
Regina turned to Ruby. "Care for a drink?"
"Sure."
Regina pulled out two glasses and a bottle of apple cider and walked to the living room as Ruby followed. Regina sat and poured a glass for Ruby and herself. 'Apples. Of course.' Ruby smirked at the irony as she accepted the glass and sat down, as well. They slipped into a comfortable silence both taking comfort in the warm feeling the drink provided.
Breaking the silence Ruby asked, "How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"How did you become so strong? Aside from the dark one you're one of the most powerful people in the Enchanted Forest."
"This is about earlier, isn't it?"
Ruby nodded in agreement.
"You'll get it. Don't give up so easily, dear." She said placing a hand on Ruby's.
"I'm sorry, but I think I might disappoint you there."
Going against her better judgment Regina spoke. "Alright, listen. I'll try to help, but, only..."
Ruby interrupted her. "I'll do anything."
Regina took a deep breath. "What have you been focusing on while you practice your magic?"
"Seeing Peter and my mother again."
"Okay, this is what worked for me. Tell me about when you've felt the most anger."
"Peter. It was Peter."
"Wait, so he's the focus of your anger?"
"No. This is a pretty long story, but I'll give you the short version. I lived with my granny and she always kept me locked up inside at night. Especially at wolfstime. She told me she didn't want the wolf that was attacking our village to get me. She always made me wear that cloak saying that red repelled the wolves." The corners of Ruby's lips gently quirked upwards. "There was this guy, Peter. We loved each other. He would sneak over and see me. We planned to run away together. Well, then I met Snow and we decided to go after the wolf. We ended up finding tracks which turned into human footprints and led to my window...the exact place where Peter was earlier." Ruby closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Her eyes glistening when she reopened them. "We assumed Peter was the wolf. Wolfstime was soon approaching. Snow came up with the idea of chaining him up during wolfstime so he couldn't hurt anyone. That night I snuck out while Snow pretended to be me. I took Peter out to the woods and chained him to a tree." Tears began to fall down her face as she started to choke up. "I...I remember waking up from laying down in the snow with so much pain in my side. Snow and Granny were standing there with horrified expressions. I heard the mob coming and then I looked back and I...I...ss..saw him lying there. Blood was everywhere. I killed him. I killed him. I killed him." Ruby continued whispering this mantra over and over. Her body began shaking.
'I.. I...' Regina couldn't even form coherent thoughts. Instead she acted on her instincts. She scooted over to Ruby and hugged her. Ruby clinged to her without giving herself time to question the gesture and began to silently cry on to her shoulder. They both pulled back after Ruby had re-composed herself.
"Sorry." Ruby said apologetically.
"Don't be." Regina paused for a moment, the memory of why they were actually having this conversation to begin with, unexpectedly hit her.
Regina looked down, forcing her emotions down, as well. "I know how bad it hurts to lose someone you love."
Ruby's eyes hardened over in a way the Queen had never seen, let alone imagine to be possible.
"Granny lied to me. She hid the truth about what I was from me. Do you know how many lives could have been saved?! And the people that would be alive still! And... and.. Snow.." The last part coming out in an inhuman growl reminding Regina of the beast which sat in front of her.
Ruby's demeanor changed. The deep passion in her voice collided with the fury in her eyes. "She is the one who caused me to murder Peter." She said in a dangerously low voice with glowing amber eyes that did not belong to the typically flirty waitress who existed prior to the cruse breaking.
'This could go very wrong, very fast..' Regina thought. "Ruby. Ruby. Calm down." She said as she took a chance laying a hand on Ruby's own.
Regina felt an uncertain emotion roll over her as Ruby froze and breathed heavily.
Regina prepared to unleash her magic should the need arise. 'Don't make me hurt you.'
The seconds seemed like minutes as Ruby's eyes slowly faded back to green.
"Sorry, I just got a little.. upset." Ruby said as Regina removed her hand from her's.
Regina smiled. "I understand."
Those words held such a deeper meaning than the intended reply they were used for, and both of the women could sense that.
"Try to create a fireball again."
"Okay." Ruby said as she complied. Standing up, holding her hand out in front of her she focused on summoning up her newly discovered magic.
Regina stood up beside her catching a glimpse of yellow eyes. "Think about what you told me. Channel that anger into the fireball."
And with that Ruby quickly formed a large fireball and was able to sustain it.
Ruby's face broke into a huge grin. "I did it."
Regina gestured her head towards the open fireplace. Ruby threw it into the fireplace lighting it with her magic.
After a moment Ruby turned to Regina with a serious expression. "Thank you. I... I'm not sure how I can repay you."
"You don't have to. If what Gold said is true and you really can help us open a portal, it was worth it."
"I guess I should get going before Granny starts trying to track me down. I'm sure if she found me over here.. well I actually, I don't want to know what she'd do."
"Yes, I'm sure that would be quite interesting to say the least."
As Ruby's hand reached the door handle she paused. "Thanks."
Regina replied without much thought. "You're not the only that's been screwed over by Snow."
