Chapter 9.
Belle bit her lip as she watched Red pace her apartment, biting her nails.
"Hey," Belle grabbed her hand, "You okay?"
Red sighed, "Sorry," she grimaced, "I'm a bit nervous."
"A bit?" Belle quirked an eyebrow, "Do you really think Granny will have a problem with us being…us?"
Red shrugged, "I'm not sure. It's just, I haven't had anything serious since… Peter, you know who I told you about," she looked to Belle for confirmation and continued when she nodded, "She was just so protective then…so restrictive."
Belle nodded, "But that was different, Red," she said quietly, "She knew you were the wolf…she was worried you couldn't control it. Things are totally different now. You know that," she smiled.
Red couldn't help it; Belle's smile was just so infectious and crossed to her own lips, "Yeah… I guess."
"Anyway, weren't you…with people, when you were Ruby?" Belle asked.
Red frowned, "Sure, but it was different. Granny wasn't herself then, neither was I. You're the first relationship I've had, you know as Red, since Peter," she shrugged.
Belle nodded, "Yeah," she looked at the clock, "You better go," she rested her hands on Red's shoulders, before tiptoeing to kiss the taller woman on the lips.
"Uh-huh," Red nodded reluctantly.
"I'll see you soon," Belle gave her a hug, feeling the tension in her girlfriend and kissing her cheek as she pulled back, "I love you."
"Love you too, babe," Red squeezed her hand before she left.
"What are you so nervous about?" Granny asked observingly.
Red shrugged, "Nothing, Granny."
Granny laughed, "Okay, you'll tell me when you're ready," she shrugged.
Red bit her lip, "I am ready," she blurted.
Granny nodded, "Okay, well shoot, girl."
"It's not so easy," Red felt like a child again, squirming awkwardly in her seat as she simply stared at the dinner Granny had cooked them.
"Is it my cooking? You haven't taken a single bite," Granny quipped.
Red rolled her eyes, "Of course not, Granny," she sighed, "You know Belle?"
Granny nodded as she ate her dinner, "Of course, your second home is at that girl's these days."
Red nodded, "Uh, well yeah. And actually, um, the thing is that I'm kinda, with her."
Granny smiled, "I know."
Red blinked, "What?" she asked dumbfounded.
"Oh, Red, you haven't looked at anyone with that sparkle in your eye since Peter," Granny said gently.
Red was still shocked, "Oh."
"Red, you know all I want is your happiness and that's what I see in you when Belle is around. I don't care if it's a woman or a man, we're wolves, dear, we can hardly discriminate against anyone, now can we?"
Red laughed at that, "That's true. So…you really don't mind?" she asked weakly.
Granny rolled her eyes, "No, I don't. In fact, I'm ecstatic. I won't always be around you know, and I don't want you to be alone when that time comes."
"Don't be so morbid, Granny!" Red exclaimed, putting her face in her hands, "Ugh."
Granny shrugged, "Well then, I would like you to bring her here. For dinner."
Red licked her lips, "Really? And you'll be…you know, nice?"
"Am I not usually nice?" Granny raised her eyebrows.
Red chuckled, "You really want me to answer that? Just be nicer than usual, please?"
Granny sighed, "I will be as nice to her as she is to me."
Red smiled, "Well, now don't push yourself. She's such a sweetheart, I don't think you could ever be that nice Granny," she teased.
Granny smiled, "She does seem like a nice girl, always has her nose buried in a book though, doesn't she?"
Red bit back a smile, "Yeah, she loves reading. Um, Granny, there's more."
Granny frowned, "Hmm? Let me guess, you're going to move in with her?"
Red blinked, "Granny, are you a fucking mind reader now or something?"
"Language, girl!" Granny reprimanded, "And I take that as a yes."
Red nodded meekly, "Is that okay? I mean, are you going to be okay on your own? I'm not a kid anymore, Granny – "
"Oh shush, Red, I know that and I'm not dying yet. I'll be fine as long as you get yourself to work on time," Granny claimed.
Red smiled sheepishly, "Sure, deal! Thanks, Granny," she jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around her grandmother, "You really are the best."
Granny laughed, "Okay, well, those boxes aren't going to pack themselves, you know!"
Belle had never been so quickly jerked out of her books than she was that evening upon hearing the door crack open. She bounded from her position curled up on the couch to meet her girlfriend, who was making her way quietly down the hall until she spotted Belle and her face broke into a grin.
"I thought you might be asleep," she whispered.
Belle smiled, "Of course not! How did it go?"
Red beamed, "She was so great, Belle. I think she already likes you and she's invited you to dinner!"
Belle threw her arms around the taller woman's neck, "Really? Yay! That's fantastic, I knew it would be okay."
"Oh, bull," Red scoffed, "You were just as nervous as me, you liar."
Belle shrugged sheepishly, "Well, maybe," she admitted, biting her lip as she held back a smile, "So when's dinner? Did you tell her about the move?"
Red nodded, "Yep, you wanna help me pack tomorrow?"
Belle squealed, "Tomorrow? Really?" she kissed Red on the lips and nuzzled into her neck for a moment, "Yay."
Red was delighted at Belle's excitement as she fell onto the couch and pulled the smaller brunette with her, "Yay, indeed," she mumbled into her hair, "We can have dinner after we pack, Granny said. She says if we pack, she'll cook," she rolled her eyes, "She's not so keen on manual labour."
Belle giggled, "Awesome! This is great."
Red pinned her onto the couch, hovering over her, "Hmm, how great?"
Belle rolled her eyes and pulled Red's face to hers, biting Red's lip gently so she opened her mouth and they allowed their tongue's to dance somewhere in the middle.
