Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or the characters.
The women woke to someone pounding on the door to Ruby's suite. Scowling, Ruby pressed a quick kiss against Belle's forehead before rolling off the bed and landing on her feet. She pulled a black robe around herself before flinging open the door. Emma came straight into the bedroom, barely glancing at Belle before picking up the television remote and turning on the entertainment news channel. Ruby sat down beside Belle on the bed while Emma paced from the television to the window and back.
"The mystery of Ruby Red's new love interest has come to a stunning conclusion," the perky redhead on the television announced. "Press agents outside her concert last night finally managed to catch the lovebirds as they dashed from the building to Ruby's waiting limo, let's take a look at the photo."
A candid picture of Ruby and Belle appeared on the screen, their hands locked together and grins on their faces. "That doesn't prove anything," Ruby objected. "Girls hold hands with friends all the time."
"In addition to this picture, we have been informed by an inside source that Ruby Red was seen ducking into her dressing room after the show with this woman and the two later emerged with their lipsticks smeared," the redhead continued. "I don't know what you think, Archie, but that sure sounds like they had a romantic rendezvous before ducking into the limo."
Ruby scowled. "Who on the team would be stupid enough to talk to the media?"
"I'm betting it was one of the stage hands," Emma replied. "It's not uncommon for people who work for the stadiums to make a little extra money by keeping an eye out for celebrity gossip when they can."
The woman on the television continued speaking. "Here at Entertainment News we are very excited to reveal the identity of this mystery woman who seems to have captured the heart of one of our favorite pop princesses. Her name is Belle French, and she is a journalist for Music Lifestyle Monthly who has been documenting Ruby's summer tour. Unfortunately, that's all we could find out. This is one woman who has managed to stay out of the public eye."
"Well, Ariel, that won't last for much longer," her male cohost replied. "Privacy becomes a thing of the past when you are linked to a celebrity. You know, I wonder what her superiors at Music Lifestyle Monthly think about the relationship. I find it hard to believe they'd approve of a journalist being involved with the subject of their articles."
Belle sat up in the bed, keeping the sheets covering her body while she held her head in her hands. Emma muted the television while Ruby rubbed a gentle hand over Belle's bare back. Belle shook her head, not looking at either of the women. "Shit, shit, shit," she whispered. "I'll be fired. There's probably a voicemail on my phone already. New York is an hour ahead of us here, my boss has to have heard by now."
"Belle, I'm so sorry," Emma said. "Please let me know what you hear from your boss. Now, I'm sorry, but I have to go try to get a handle on this news coverage. Ruby, remember you have to be at the stadium tonight by seven," she left the two other women alone in the bedroom. They heard the suite's door click closed behind the blonde.
Ruby ran her hand through Belle's hair. "So we were reckless and got caught. Nothing has to change, right?"
Belle pulled her knees to her chest and leaned her cheek against her knees. "I'll be fired, Ruby. That means I'll be off the article series and unable to continue the tour with you."
"You'll be able to stay on the tour," Ruby smiled. "You just won't have to work during it anymore. We can focus on having fun."
"And where do you expect me to find the money to travel with you?" Belle asked, lifting her head. "Journalist salaries aren't very large and I can guarantee that I will not be getting a very generous severance package when I'm fired."
Ruby laughed. "Don't be silly, I'll pay for you to come with. Why would you even worry about that?"
"Oh, I'm not sure, maybe because I now have to worry about everything?" Belle demanded, scooting her way out from under the sheets and moving to pull on her clothes from the night before. "Our relationship becoming public like this means I have lost my job. I now have no way of supporting myself, which means I won't have the income necessary to pay rent, buy groceries, or anything. Thank goodness I've always been more of a saver than a spender, I should have enough to hold me over until I find a new job, but I have to get back to New York and start job hunting right away and hope that someone will hire me despite this breach of journalist ethics," she pulled up the zipper of her dark blue skirt and tucked in her yellow blouse. "I don't think staying with you and the tour is an option for me."
"Staying with the tour or staying with me?" Ruby asked as Belle pulled on one of her high heels. "They're different things."
"I'm not sure if they are," Belle replied. "The tour is your life right now, and when it's over you'll go back to your house in Los Angeles. My life is in New York. I don't see how we could make that work."
"People have long distance relationships all the time," Ruby insisted, frowning. "Are you trying to find a reason why we can't be together?"
"Of course not!" Belle said. "I'm just trying to be realistic. Long distance relationships fail very easily, and require a very strong bond to work."
"What, we don't have a strong enough bond?" Ruby demanded. "Did you miss the part where I said I love you last night?"
Belle pushed hair away from her face in frustration. "I remember it and you know I feel the same, but sometimes things just don't work and feeling something for someone isn't enough to make a relationship work!"
"Are you seriously going to let the paparazzi break us up?" Ruby nearly yelled. "We have good thing here and you're just going to throw it away because your boss disapproves?"
Belle closed her eyes and went into the living room area of the suite. "Why don't I check my phone before we both say anything more we might regret?"
"Fine," Ruby said shortly. She leaned in the doorway to the bedroom while Belle turned on her cell phone. She winced when she saw four voicemails waiting. Two were from friends congratulating her on getting together with a celebrity and demanding details. One was a reminder that she had a package waiting with the doorman of her apartment building. The final message was brief and from her boss.
"Miss French," Mr. Gold's voice revealed no emotion. "It has come to my attention that your relationship with Ms. Red may be more than strictly professional. I have emailed you a plane ticket for this afternoon which will bring you back to New York. I expect you in my office at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow morning to discuss the situation."
Belle deleted the message with a hand that shook. "I've been ordered to return to New York."
"And what does that mean?" Ruby asked, arms wrapped around herself.
"That means that he wants to fire me in person," Belle replied. "Ruby, I-"
"Please don't," Ruby said, moving to stand in front of Belle and taking her hands. "I get that you don't think that we could manage to stay together, so let's just call this a pause, okay? We'll take care of our lives and meet up someday down the line and it'll work then."
Belle's eyes filled with tears. "I have to go pack and find out when my plane leaves."
Ruby nodded, blinking back tears of her own. "I know."
The two women kissed, Ruby's hands cupping Belle's face and Belle's arms wrapped around Ruby's waist. They broke apart and kept their foreheads pressed together, each breathing jaggedly. Ruby brushed a soft kiss against Belle's lips. "Pause?" she whispered.
"Pause," Belle murmured in reply before stepping away and leaving the suite. Ruby sat down in the middle of the floor and let the tears stream down her face.
