Writers note: HEY guys thank so much for the positive feedback! I love it. Keep it coming and suggestions also. I am so happy and obsessed with the fic I haven't had the time to write but today I buckled down and wrote the rest of it. I hope you guys enjoy. It took so much self-control not to do the inevitable! You will see!

Ruby sat up rapidly feeling a rush of anger course throughout her frame.

"I don't belong to anyone…" she repeated slipping off Regina's bed onto her feet.

Ruby marched up to the door and opened it quickly, her eyes on Regina's back.

A wave of emotions came colliding down upon her. Ruby was the only person who could possibly understand Regina, and understand the struggles she had to face.

So why was it so hard for Regina to let her in, to at least give their friendship a standing chance?

Ruby to faced many things back in their land, if anything Regina could confide in her. But she didn't and Ruby was not about to let it slide.

"Don't you dare walk out that door Regina… don't run away from me." Ruby spoke sternly walking towards Regina.

"I need to go Red… I mean Ruby." Regina answered looking away.

"Look at me." Ruby called out crossly searching for Regina's gaze.

It didn't hit Ruby until she caught Regina scampering about in the living room trying to escape her reality. As if being around Ruby would harm her in anyway.

As if Ruby would go straight to Snow and tell her about the night they had.

Which Ruby thought was perfect, minus her putting her foot in her mouth calling Regina evil and the terrifying nightmare she had.

But for once Ruby knew that Regina wasn't the woman they all thought to be. Cold hearted and soulless, in fact Regina was the complete opposite.

Regina if only for a moment let Ruby hold her, she let someone actually help her through the darkness that clouded her constantly.

This made Ruby wonder what really happened to Regina to make her so cold and evil at one point.

No matter what it was she wouldn't turn her back on her now when she was on the cusp of getting to know the real Regina.

Something inside of her told her not too, a feeling Ruby would not disregard.

"I don't belong to anyone Regina, not to Snow… not to Charming… We aren't the same people anymore Regina, everything is different and no matter how hard you try to push me away or anyone else it won't stop the fact that you need someone… someone to hold you to let you know it will be alright."

Ruby felt her heartbeat accelerating; she trembled with fright and anger.

"You gave me a chance Regina, a chance to escape the shit that haunted me daily— Red had to live with that fact that she took her own happily ever after and ripped him to pieces— she had to live forever with a broken heart but you… you gave me a new start and you know something Regina" She paused feeling hot droplets of her tears gliding down the apples of her cheeks.

"I want it— I want it so bad I don't want to go back. I don't want to go back to that life— A part of me wished that I wouldn't have remembered— because all I can see sometimes is his face, his scent, and his blood on my hands and there is nothing I can do to make it go away— nothing" she whispered feeling her heart shattering.

Ruby covered her face; she was mortified for confessing something she could never let her best friend know. Not because she was frightened but because a large part of her didn't want to be Red, the monster who took her own loves away.

"Don't you get Regina" Ruby whispered letting her hands fall to her sides.

"You saved me from guilt… not forever but briefly. I just want to be Ruby— a normal woman." she cried letting her walls crumble.

"I'm tired of all the evil and good bullshit, I don't want to live afraid of a future I want to live in the now" she continued letting the truth she had been fighting finally out.

Regina was frozen in place; she felt her own emotions betraying her. It wasn't long before she too began to shed tears.

"I'm drowning Ruby—I'm drowning in this guilt and hate that you can't imagine and I don't know what to do" her voice trembled.

"You aren't the only one Regina" Ruby answered stepping closer to her.

"I don't know who I am anymore, or what I should do since I have lost everything." Regina cried feeling her knees tremble, she placed her hands on her temples.

"I hate Snow and everything that has been handed to her; I hate Charming because he represents everything that is wrong in that world, a world dominated by men who use us. I hate Emma because she is the product of Snow's happily ever after and for taking MY son" she said coldly behind her tears.
"And I hate all of you for standing in my way of happiness" she said angrily.

Ruby brows furrowed shaking her head. "You don't hate me Regina—you barely know me, you are too afraid to give me a chance…" Ruby suddenly silenced by Regina.

"A chance?" Regina laughed coldly.

"A chance to destroy any shot I have left to happiness? Why are you really hear Ruby? Is this some secret plan Snow and Charming have put you up too?" she said angrily.

"Don't." Ruby snapped.

"DON'T WHAT! TELL THEM THEY HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY, I have nothing up my sleeve I just want to be left alone!" Regina snapped back.

"You are too stupid to see that I just want to be your friend, too fucking stupid to understand that you aren't the only one hurting" Ruby whispered rushing past her.

Regina hooked her arm around Ruby's turning her around.

"You are too stupid to see that you mean nothing in my eyes, just because I allowed you to see a moment of weakness doesn't mean you know a damn thing about me or who I am… no run along you're walk is overdue" Regina said indifferently.

"Snow was right, you are one bitter bitch" Ruby shot back imperturbably.

Ruby's words stung beyond repair.

Regina let her anger consume her, she swung her hand to meet Ruby's face but the young woman caught her hand swiftly.

"Get out!" Regina shouted.

"Make me." Ruby snapped and yanked her into her frame, before the older woman could protest.

Ruby's emerald hues locked with Regina's and unexpectedly her arms loped around Regina's arms holding them captive behind her.

Ruby's face was inches from Regina's; she looked deep into her eyes for a moment then pushed her away.

"You were right, I am different… I would never harm a friend" Ruby said backing away slowly.
"Ruby… I'm" Regina tried to speak but Ruby turned her back to her.

Opening the door Ruby walked out onto the hallway slamming the door shut.

Regina closed her eyes regret seeped into her heart, something inside of her screamed to go after Ruby but she couldn't. Regina would end up hurting her sooner or later.

Ruby ran as quickly as she could, she ran onto the side walk then down the street. Her lungs filled with the hard cold city air finally made her stop. She noticed the clothes she was wearing and realized she had left not only her clothes but her mobile at Regina's.

She cursed into the air and shook her head, it didn't matter she wouldn't return and she would go to her hotel and forget all about Regina.

Ruby inhaled closing her eyes; Regina's scent was all she could take it. As much as she was angry, something else had made her run from Regina.

Emotions that not only frightened her, but clouded her judgment. Emotions she could never tell to Snow or anyone else.