With a huff of resignation, the huge black wolf turns and heads back home. It's no use trying to fight it any longer. All night she's tried to hunt and run and ignore the niggling instinct to go home, but to no avail. Her powerful legs make easy work of the miles between the woods and Mifflin street. Four paws hit the walkway, but by the time she reaches the front porch, she's on two legs and fumbling in her pocket for her key. Ruby sighs as she unlocks the door. She and Regina had been arguing over something ridiculous earlier in the evening and Ruby had left before they'd made up. Because, seriously, if Regina thinks she's gonna apologise for not making all the spoons face the same way in the drawer, she's got another thing coming. But, then again, Ruby knows that Regina has been a little more testy than usual lately because of Henry's impending departure for college. Usually Ruby can work with Regina's moods and turn them around. But the combination of wolfstime being so close, and her own feelings about Henry going away, resulted in her snapping back. One thing led to another and a full-on screaming match ensued. And Ruby's wolf appears to be pretty pissed off about it.

Pushing the door open as quietly as she can, her eyes adjust quickly to the darkness inside. She closes the door behind her and is about to head through to the kitchen to grab a snack, when she picks up on a presence in the living room. She knows instinctively that it's Regina and she can tell by her breathing that she's asleep. It's not like Regina to fall asleep anywhere other than in bed, and even there, she's a fitful sleeper. Ruby chances a peek into the living room and when her eyes land on her slumbering partner, it's all she can do not to make a sound. Regina is asleep on the couch, wrapped in Ruby's cloak.

Without a second thought, Ruby moves across the room, soundlessly dropping to her knees by the couch. She runs the tips of her fingers over the buttery material of the hood, she pauses at the edge, not wanting to disturb Regina's sleep. But the temptation is too great, and she brushes her knuckles over Regina's cheek before leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. She means to leave it at that, but her lips move of their own accord to the Queen's nose, then her cheek, her chin, her jaw and finally her lips. The kiss is returned and accompanied by a sleepy moan. Ruby smiles into the kiss before moving so that her head is resting on the same cushion as Regina's, their noses touching.

"M'sorry for waking you," she whispers, stroking along Regina's eyebrow. The Queen is yet to open her eyes.

"S'okay," Regina mumbles, her voice thick with sleep. "Wasn't sleeping."

"Uh huh," Ruby agrees with a smile as Regina cracks an eye open, shifting around until she can work a hand free of the confines of the cloak. Ruby catches it in her own and brings it to her lips, smiling when Regina hums in pleasure.

"It's still dark," Regina says, brow creasing in concern. "You're back early."

"Yeah, well, the wolf wouldn't settle," Ruby admits, sliding her fingers through Regina's until their hands are linked. "She wanted me to come back here and apologise to her mate for being an asshole."

Regina lets out a surprised laugh and squeezes Ruby's fingers. "Well, when you put it that way...I think we were both assholes."

Ruby nods, hiding a smile under false contemplation. "Yeah, but it's more noticeable on me." This earns her a light shove using their joined hands, and she kisses the frown from Regina's mouth. She bumps their foreheads together. "Why're you down here sleeping in my cloak?"

Shifting her eyes away, Regina shrugs. "I couldn't sleep for thinking about that stupid fight. And the bed was cold." She tugs the cloak more tightly around her. "And this smells of you."

"Last time I wore it, you told me it smelled like wet dog," Ruby says.

"Yes," Regina nods, her lips lifting at the very edges. "Just like you."

"Oh, that's how it is, huh?" Ruby's eyes narrow playfully and her hand makes its way inside the cloak, seeking out Regina's secret ticklish spot.

"No! No, I'm sorry!" Regina squirms in an attempt to get away from her questing fingers. "I'm sorry." She yanks Ruby closer and slams their lips together. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Ruby murmurs, between kisses. "I know you're upset about Henry. I know you're gonna miss him. And I should have known that's why you were lashing out."

A gentle hand pushes her face away until their eyes meet. "That doesn't excuse my behaviour," Regina says. "Yes, I'm upset. But that doesn't mean I should be taking out my frustrations on you."

"Still, I could've been more understanding," Ruby insists. "But it's just, you know...I'm gonna miss him too." Her words come out in a rush. She's never spoken about this to Regina, unwilling to put her feelings out there to add to Regina's sorrow. But she's hurting too. She looks down, concentrating on the pattern on her cloak. "He's...I know he's not my son, but he's my family . He's my little pup. And he's gonna be so far away and I'm not gonna be able to watch over him like I can here and he's-" Her breath catches on a sob.

"Oh, Ruby." Suddenly Regina is kneeling with her on the floor and they're clinging to each other. "I never considered-...I should have realised."

Ruby shakes her head, her nose buried in Regina's neck. "No. You've got enough to worry about." She lifts her head and attempts to smile. "I'm fine. It just...sometimes gets to me too, you know? So, if you're feeling shitty and you want a hug, or you wanna yell and blow stuff up for a while, that's fine. I'll understand. And I'll probably join in. But just tell me. Don't make it about fucking spoons, okay?"

"Okay," Regina tells her, smoothing both hands down Ruby's cheeks and holding her face. "Okay."

"Good." Ruby glances at the couch and her discarded cloak. "So, you think maybe you can sleep in the bed now?"

"That depends. Are you going to be in it with me, or does the wolf feel like she needs to run?" Regina asks.

"The wolf brought me back here," Ruby says, standing up and offering her hands to Regina. "If she thinks I'm going back out now, she can go fuck herself." She stoops and sweeps Regina up into her arms, enjoying the squeak of surprise the dignified woman lets out. Her already impressive strength increases exponentially around the full moon and Regina feels like she weighs nothing. "I, on the other hand,-" Ruby continues as she carries Regina towards the staircase, her eyes glowing golden in the darkness. "-am going to fuck you ."