Ruby came into the bedroom she shared with Belle, exhausted after a long day of rounds, to find Belle tearfully organizing her new library books on her nightstand.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked coming to her side.
"I ran into Killian and Liam at the library, I hadn't seen him since the accident and it's just a lot to take in and process," Belle said wiping her eyes. Ruby felt a shameful flame of jealousy flare up her spine. "He's doing well thank god and Liam seems to be enjoying his new school."
"Mhmm" Ruby nodded as she sat on her bed and stretched out.
"I've been looking into all the current research of prosthetic care to give to him and Emma, you know there have been some amazing advancements in prosthesis lately," Belle said, picking up a large volume and turning the pages furiously, "I mean, some are starting to look so lifelike."
"Fascinating," Ruby sighed.
"And he's so good with Liam, he's more concerned with his son's well being and education than he is with his hand. He's the most dedicated person I know."
"He's probably not dedicated to you," Ruby muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Belle asked, knowing exactly what Ruby had just said.
"Nothing," Ruby said quickly, she felt her cheeks grow hot.
"What do you mean that Killian's 'not dedicated to me'? Why would he be?" Belle asked crossing her arms defensively.
"I mean, he's clearly dedicated to Emma at this point," Ruby shrugged nonchalantly.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean? You think I like Killian?"
Ruby's jaw dropped, "What? No I just- I think-" she stuttered trying to find the right words to say as Belle crossed the room to stand in front of her.
"Because Killian is just my friend and definitely not my type right now; he has not enough of some things and frankly too much of others," Belle snapped. Ruby could have sworn Belle's eyes dipped down to her lips; she mentally shook herself, there was no chance that Belle felt the the same way for her.
"I just- I didn't mean," Ruby stumbled over her words.
"Forget it," Belle said, stomping out of the room and slamming the door behind her. Ruby fell back onto her bed, scrubbing her hand over her face.
Belle refused to talk to her for the rest of the evening, remaining quiet at dinner and then choosing to spend the rest of her time before bed in the lounge with a book.
"Is everything okay between you two?" Elsa asked as she went up the stairs with Ruby.
"We're fine, what makes you ask?" Ruby said quickly.
"You two just seem more distant than usual, I mean you can practically have a whole conversation with each other without saying a single word to each other. But at dinner it seemed like every time she looked at you, you were looking away and every time you looked at her she was looking down at her plate," Elsa explained. Ruby bit down on her lip, her feelings swirling around her as she tried to sort them out. "Take it from me, it's best if you open up and talk about whatever it is that is coming between you. I know it can be scary but it will make you two so much closer."
Ruby sucked in her breath and looked at Elsa nervously, did she know that she preferred women to men? Did Elsa know how she felt about Belle?
"I'll think about it," Ruby said carefully before bidding Elsa goodnight. She got ready for bed and waited for Belle to come back in. She must have fallen into a doze because she jerked awake when Belle quietly opened the door to their room.
"Sorry," Belle muttered, ever polite even when she was rightfully angry. Ruby sat up and took a deep breath.
"No I'm sorry," Ruby sighed and drew her knees up to her chest, "I don't know why I said what I said to you earlier."
Belle sat down on the bed next to her, "That's okay, I just want to know why me being worried about my friend made you lash out like that."
"I don't know," Ruby took a deep breath gathering all her courage, "I guess I may have been a little jealous."
"Jealous of Killian? Why would you- oh," Belle said, realization spreading over her face.
"Look I know it's wrong and you don't feel the same way about me but please just don't tell-" Ruby started but was cut off by Belle leaning forward and pressing her lips to hers. Ruby stilled for a moment, stunned by the turn of events, before returning the kiss and threading her fingers through Belle's hair.
"Is this really happening?" Ruby whispered against Belle's lips.
Belle smiled and nodded. "I can't believe it either," she said before Ruby captured her lips. The two of them traded kisses back and forth, still reveling in their shared feelings as they both laid back on the small bed. Belle rested her head against Ruby's shoulder, Ruby's arms wrapped around her, both of them taking a breather.
"When did you know? That we were attracted to other women?" Ruby asked, burrowing her nose into Belle's wavy hair.
"I don't know, I've been attracted to men for as long as I can remember and women too but I always tried to tell myself that I was just appreciating beauty. That I couldn't possibly be attracted to them too,that is until I met Merida. My father and I took a trip up to Scotland when I was about 14 and she had this mess of red curls and big brown eyes that I wanted to stare into for days. She ended up being my first kiss and from then on I couldn't denying it to myself any longer." Belle said wistfully, "When did you know?"
"Well first there was Mulan, her family lived down the street from mine when we were children. We used to experiment with each other until her family had to move back to China. Then during the war she was an American nurse who came over to care for her country's wounded before they were well enough to be sent back home. Her name was Dorothy but I took to calling her Kansas. You know how it was back in those times, never really sure if you would make it to next week let alone to see the end of the war. There was an air raid and we both managed to get ourselves locked in a closet and I thought 'it's now or never' and I just kissed her. Thank god she was also like us; we were able to see each other for a while until suddenly it was V.E. Day and she was needed back at her home in order to take care of her sick aunt. I was probably the saddest woman in London that day. We still send each other the occasional letter to catch up."
"She sounds fantastic," Belle said before kissing Ruby on the cheek. Her face turned thoughtful, "Ruby how are we going to make this work? We live in a convent for Christ's sake."
"I don't know," Ruby clutched at Belle tighter, "But maybe so long as we're discreet we'll be okay. After all, what's better than gals being pals?"
Belle giggled before Ruby pounced on her lips again, they could worry about the finer details tomorrow, for tonight they wanted to enjoy each other.
A/N: ;) Remember reviews are always appreciated and welcome!
