Hello, My Doves! So, the subject of what Snow and Charming will be facing in Fairy Tale Land came up in a review. They will go through the same struggles as Emma and MM as depicted in S2. I find their characters utterly irritating and, especially Snow, a little unrealistic (at least until she kills Cora). I sort of feel that way about Henry, too, but he is a bit more vital to the story. That said, I'm avoiding them as long as possible before I have to figure out how to write their characters.
Now, on to the good stuff! Thank you for all of your reviews and follows (over 100!). I had intended this next bit to be one chapter, but, well… it got a little long, so it will be posted in two installments. The next one should be up later today. Also, I've relabeled the story to include Red and Belle. I never intended to include them so heavily, but it just works so damn well for the direction of this story. Enjoy, Lovelies!
Songs: I'm Only Human by Christina Perri, Monster You Made Me by Pop Evil
Ruby managed to shuttle the small group to Regina's mansion without further incident. Regina sat in the back with Henry pulled tightly against her, Belle at her side in the front. The young librarian surprised her when she stopped on the street beside the clock tower. Instead of retreating to her small apartment, Belle smiled gently and touched her hand before telling her to drive on.
She was pleased because Henry had truly taken to Belle very quickly, thrilled to have finally met someone who loved reading as much as he did. They chattered for hours about different books and stories. Also, she kept an eye on her more easily when they were together; Belle wasn't quite accustomed to the 21st century and all of its appliances of convenience. She'd nearly given Ruby a heart attack that morning when she almost stuck a fork into the toaster to check the status of her 'crisping bread.' That wasn't mentioning the fact that Gold wouldn't deign to mess with her while she was in Regina's house. She'd have someone to distract Henry if Regina jumped off the deep end. The list went on, but perhaps the biggest reason was the fact that Ruby simply felt better in her presence, like maybe she could have done anything if Belle only stayed at her side. Was this what Regina felt when she was with Emma?
She ushered her charges into the Mills' mansion but hesitated in the foyer. She'd never been in Regina's house before. She needn't have worried. Henry grabbed Belle's hand and dragged her into the living room, depositing her on a sofa before scampering up the stairs, yelling about his book of fairy tales that were actually true. Regina smiled at her son's antics and followed him with her eyes for a moment.
"Care for a drink, Miss Lucas?" Regina tossed over her shoulder as she turned towards the kitchen. She figured Ruby would follow or she wouldn't, either way she needed a drink.
The young wolf glanced in Belle's direction and then trailed Regina to the kitchen. She had no clue what Emma had done that inspired such drastic changes in the former mayor, but she sensed that Regina approached some sort of precipice. Even if it was the last favor she did for her friend, she strived to ensure that Regina made it to the other side without falling into the darkness.
Regina knocked back a shot as Ruby entered and then poured more into the crystal tumbler. A second glass sat on the marble counter, and Ruby poured herself two fingers, figuring if Regina could shoot it, then it was probably stout enough to knock her on her ass. She sat at the island and watched the dark woman, waiting for the thunder heads to break open.
Regina snatched a plate of bacon and scrambled eggs and tossed the china into the sink. It shattered under the force, and Ruby jerked. Regina remained in control as she continued to move about the kitchen. So, Ruby sipped her drink, wincing at the harsh bite and then relaxing into the pleasant apple-flavored burn. It was strong. And it was homemade.
Regina flitted around the kitchen, pulling a few things from her cabinets and then the refrigerator. Ruby flinched when Regina reappeared with a giant cutting knife, but the distraught woman missed the reaction, already bending forward to claim a cutting board from beneath the island. The tick, thunk of the knife hitting wood soothed both women. Regina paused and slung another shot down her throat, immediately pouring another, before returning to the vegetables. In no time at all, the broccoli, zucchini and baby carrots were tossed into a large steamer.
Rice came next, as did another shot when she set the pot of water on the burner, and then another after she finished mixing a lemon and honey and rosemary marinade. Ruby nursed her drink and watched. Observing Regina moving so confidently around the kitchen was indeed an impressive and rare sight, even in bright pink scrubs and bare feet. It was hard to imagine the fierce woman as domestic, but it seemed to soothe her.
She took another shot before moving to the sink. She poked at the four individually wrapped packets of salmon and then turned on the hot water. Finally, she stilled, resting her hands on the edge of the sink as steam billowed upward. It lasted only a few minutes, though, until the salmon was thawed enough for her approval. She ripped the packs open and dumped the contents into a glass baking dish and then dumped the marinade on top. She stirred the rice, lowered the heat, took a shot.
"That's six in less than 20 minutes. If you don't stop, you're going to pass out before you finish dinner," Ruby warned, her voice calm and even, despite her deep concern.
"Unless you'd like your fur singed, Miss Lucas, you will remain silent," Regina bristled and then downed another gulp of the harsh liquor as if daring Ruby to challenge her.
They fell into silence again, and regardless of Regina's threat, she drank no more of the alcohol until they sat at the table. She filled the tumbler nearly to the top and brought it with her. To her credit, Regina conducted herself regally at the dinner, though Ruby knew she had to be at least dizzy if not outright drunk.
Belle situated herself as far from Regina as she could get, waiting until Ruby sat to make sure the waitress stayed between them, and merely stared at the food for a long time before ever picking up her fork. Ruby glanced between her new friend and the former queen who was watching her guiltily. Belle hadn't yet divulged any details of her history with Regina, but the past pain shone clearly in both women as she gingerly slid her finger over the utensil and then jerked her hand away quickly. Regina sipped her drink.
Finally, after much deliberation, Belle held the fork in her hand and bowed her head, though her eyes flitted towards Regina. With a shaking hand, she cut into the salmon and then paused long enough to glance at the former queen again. Regina took another drink and remained silent. Ruby bore it no longer. Her fork clattered to the table as she reached for Belle's hand. She braced herself on the back of Belle's chair and then steadied the librarian's shaking hand beneath her own, guiding it to the small piece of salmon and then to her friend's mouth.
"It's okay. I watched her make everything," Ruby whispered, just in case Belle worried that it had been poisoned.
At Ruby's encouragement, Belle opened her mouth and tentatively placed the salmon on her tongue. At the sweet flavor and slightly metallic flavor of the fish, her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She broke free from Ruby's influencing hand and popped a perfectly steamed carrot into her mouth.
"Regina," Belle sighed contentedly. "This is wonderful." She emphasized her words by taking another bite of the salmon. Regina beamed in her slightly drunken haze.
Ruby reclaimed her fallen fork, grateful that this small crisis and all of its tension dissipated with Belle's approval. I'll kill you if you die, Emma, she thought as she tucked into her own food. Henry, too, felt the tension fade and finally resumed his normal chittering.
"Mom, did you know that Belle's going to open the library? Isn't that cool? She said that she'd help me pick out some good books. There's bunch of them already there, but they're really dusty. She says that after she opens the library I could come there everyday after school and help her if I wanted." Henry bounced in his seat, and Regina raise one thin eyebrow.
"Is that so, Miss French?" Regina tossed out casually, more to ensure that her son had actually obtained permission to do such a thing than to challenge Belle's kindness.
"If it's alright with you, of course," Belle gushed and smiled at Henry. "I'm going to need a good assistant." She winked at the boy who beamed at the pretty woman slathering him with attention. Charming: just like his grandfather.
"I've always encourage Henry towards academics." Regina shrugged as if her statement answered the question hanging in the air, and Ruby rolled her eyes.
"He's a fantastic boy. I'd love to teach him all of the languages I know," Belle continued.
"I'd like that," Henry grinned, smitten with the blue-eyed stranger. "Can I, Mom, please?" He turned puppy dog eyes on his mother.
"Of course, Sweetheart," Regina cooed and then ran her fingers over his hair. "Anything you want. I can offer you a small tutoring fee, Miss French, if you care to have it."
Ruby snorted and then choked on her broccoli and coughed as three sets of eyes watched her curiously. Who the hell was this woman, and what had she done with Regina Mills?
"Miss Lucas, even mutts need to chew their food," Regina pulled them through the awkward moment. Ah, there she was.
Ruby turned glaring eyes toward the former royal, rebuke on her tongue until she saw the playful glint in Regina's dark brown eyes, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised acerbically. Regina made a joke? Belle laughed as she finally realized it was supposed to be funny, though she didn't know why Regina would call Ruby a dog. Henry's smile, though, brought out one from Regina, perhaps aided by a copious amount of alcohol.
The rest of dinner passed in much the same manner. Every opening Regina saw, she inserted a playfully derisive one-liner and sent the other three into giggling fits. On some level, Belle and Ruby understood that Regina distracted her son from the looming grief cloud of the reality that his other mother lay near death across town, but they enjoyed Regina's friskiness all the same.
Eventually, they all yawned. Regina stood, effectively ending the dinner as a queen should, while her guests felt good and pleasantly tired - but not exhausted and overworked. Ruby slapped her hand away when she started clearing plates, and Regina glared at the young pup.
"Go tuck your son into bed. Belle and I will do the dishes," Ruby explained and then turned her back on Regina's indignant huff. That woman certainly knew how to throw a proper hissy fit, but Ruby was having none of it.
Regina never returned to the bottom floor, so they assumed she had gone to bed as well. They settled onto the sofas with pillows and blankets and drifted off. Belle awoke in the middle of the night to a faint thump. She glanced at Ruby, debating on whether or not she should wake her friend, but the other woman looked so peaceful. She'd been holding strong for everyone around her, for the town now that Emma was out of commission, for her and Henry. Ruby deserved the sleep if there was no actual threat. Belle slowly maneuvered her way through the dark house, lit only by the moon beams and streetlights filtering through the windows.
She slipped into the dining room and then into Regina's study. She froze in momentary panic when she saw the silhouetted form near the window before realizing it was Regina. Light blue silk pajamas indicated that she had maybe been in bed at one point. Her hand pressed against the window, head hung between her shoulders. A crystal tumbler dangled at her side, and Belle noticed that the decanter of liquor that had sat on the island while she and Ruby cleaned up had been emptied. Regina should be passed out by now from the consumption, but still she remained upright if a bit unsteady.
"Regina?" She called from the door, torn between wanting to comfort the destroyed woman before her and running away from her former tormentor.
"Go back to your wolf, Miss French," Regina slurred, unable or not caring to raise her head.
"My wolf?" She shook the odd command from her mind. "Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" The raspy voice lowered dangerously, but instead of scaring the young librarian away, she took a few steps into the room.
"You look like you're in pain," Belle admitted compassionately and then took another step towards Regina. If she wished, she might have reached out and touched the other woman.
"How astute. I'm pleased to see that your years of captivity haven't destroyed your deductive reasoning."
Regina's words slithered up Belle's spine, and she allowed their effect to leave her body with a shiver. This was not the same woman who had locked her away, tortured her, took her virginity against her will. That woman had died when she cast the curse, Belle was certain of it.
"Regina," Belle whispered. "Do you want to talk about what happened to Emma?"
"Not with you, slave," Regina seethed, trying to resist Belle's kindness. "Love is weakness. I am weak." Belle heard the tears despite Regina's bowed head.
"You're not weak. It takes more strength to love someone than to hurt them. It means you have to accept them as they are because you can't do anything to change them if they don't want to change. It means you might have to give them some power over you, and that leap of faith… that is true strength, not knowing where you'll land but having faith that you'll survive the fall. I learned that when I was in Rumpel's castle."
Darkness slid into Belle's voice as she remembered how exactly Rumpel had hurt her over and over again, not because he meant to, but because he was simply being who he was. Perhaps she should visit him soon, let him know she never hated him even if she could never be with him again.
"That's what I'm trying to do," Regina's quiet voice pulled her from her silent debate about the Dark One. "But I'm not very good at being human."
"What do you mean?" Belle encouraged now that the woman had stopped insulting and threatening her.
"Emma! Stupid, brave, beautiful, honest, infuriating, smug, broken, beautiful Emma. She sacrificed herself because that's who she is, but I can't accept that, not when the only reason I can see is me. She did it for me. Stupid, stupid girl." The words cursed Emma, but the tone was broken, assuring Belle that Regina hadn't meant them.
Regina whipped around suddenly, tumbler flying from her fingers. It smashed against the far wall, causing Belle to flinch and step back from Regina's anger. The decanter followed soon after and then the small table beneath the window. With nothing else in her immediately reach, Regina covered her face as a despairing wail slipped through her fingers. It was the break that Ruby had been anticipating all night.
Belle caught her instead, not even thinking twice about wrapping the broken woman in her arms as they sunk to the floor together. Regina never hugged her back or clung to her in any way, but she allowed Belle to hold her as she sobbed. This most definitely was not the woman who'd held her captive.
"I didn't tell her goodbye. She might die tonight, and I didn't tell her goodbye." Regina muttered, followed by indistinguishable slurs and mumbles.
Belle's gaze jerked to the door when Ruby clumsily tripped through it, catching her balance at the last second. The waitress had obviously been awoken by Regina's tantrum and run toward the sound before her body found its equilibrium. Regina either hadn't noticed her less than graceful entrance or she hadn't cared. Her faced remained against Belle's chest and her sobs dragged on.
Ruby's black eyes widened at the sight, but she stayed put as both women seemed to be uninjured. She simply watched, waited, lurking just out of sight like she usually did. She wasn't certain how much time passed, but eventually Regina calmed and then fell silent.
"I think she passed out," Belle said quietly. "She finished the ale that was one the table earlier." She'd be amused that the Evil Queen had done something so undignified if Regina hadn't just literally broken down in her arms.
Ruby closed her eyes with a silent curse, wishing it had been ale that Regina drank. She'd have a hell of a headache when she woke up. Why hadn't she stayed awake when every instinct she ever had told her that Regina would crack this night? Oh, right, Belle played with her hair until her eyes absolutely refused to stay open any longer.
"I've got her." Ruby stepped forward and pulled one of Regina's arms around her neck and then lifted her easily with an arm under her knees and back. She ignored Belle's surprised gasp at her wolf strength, knowing they needed to have that conversation sooner rather than later, especially with Wolf's moon approaching in only two weeks.
Regina's head rolled against her shoulder as she climbed the stairs. Her room was easily discernible by the size and similar decorations as her office at Town Hall. Ruby set her limp body on the bed and then pulled the comforter over her. She worried briefly about alcohol poisoning but shook it away, hoping Regina considered the ramifications of her actions before getting shit faced.
Belle met her at the bottom of the stairs with wide, questioning eyes, and Ruby took her shoulders in her hands as she stepped off the bottom step. Regina tortured herself because she never told Emma how she felt, never gave them a chance to be more, and now she pointed her anger inwards, destroying herself instead of other people. It wasn't a perfect situation, but it spoke volumes about Regina's commitment to changing. Ruby wanted to remove any chance of that same burden ever becoming a reality for herself.
Belle stared up at her in confusion when Ruby's chest began heaving up and down as adrenaline tore through her. She thought for a moment that the librarian might push her away and tensed for the rejection, but Belle settled her hands at her waist as she stepped into her. She failed to understand Ruby's sudden fear, but she knew that the tall woman needed her comfort right now and she wanted more than anything to take away Ruby's pain.
The kiss was gentle, a barely there ghosting of Ruby's lips over Belle's. Terror filled her eyes when Belle simply stared up at her. Any reaction would have been better than none, either good or bad would have alleviated the knot if Red's gut. Belle's grip on her waist tightened as she adjusted to the new emotions flowing through her.
"Ruby, I…" she halted, unsure what she was trying to say. She pressed on her toes and met Ruby's lips once more for a brief second. It was barely more than a peck, but it was enough.
"I can't," Belle said quietly, chin dropped and then suddenly her lips were against Ruby's again. It lingered longer than the last, and Ruby's fingers clenched Belle's shoulders in a valiant effort that gave the shorter woman control of the kiss. She was clearly terrified, so was Ruby but in a different way. Belle's lips moved against hers softly a few times and then disappeared once more.
"I'm sorry. That must have been very confusing," Belle said when she pulled back again. Ruby remained silent, forcing her eyes open slowly and allowing Belle to see the honesty in her hidden depths, hoping it was enough for Belle to see her feelings because she hadn't yet defined them enough to say them aloud. Belle leaned her head against Ruby's chest and sighed.
"I can't do this, Ruby," she whispered. The waitress' shoulders fell, and Belle pulled back quickly. "Ruby, no… I'm not very good at this," Belle berated her lack of experience. "What I mean is I need time. I've only been a free woman for a week." Ruby blinked rapidly when she realized that Belle wasn't rejecting her outright.
"I want to," the librarian admitted coyly, a small giggle escaping her lips as she turned her head away. She cleared her throat. "But I think… I think maybe right now I just need a friend. I can't even use a bread crisper properly."
"Toaster," Ruby corrected with a grin.
"Can you be that for me?" Belle's hopeful blue eyes turned upwards. They were so innocent, despite what she'd gone through, unlike the haunted ones that had been staring at her from the mirror ever since the curse broke, Red's eyes.
Ruby's heart melted. She knew she was a goner, sucked into the abyss of love. It'd never felt like this, not with Peter and certainly not with Snow. She wrapped her arms around Belle's back and pressed their fronts together. Belle leaned her head against her chest again and slipped her arms around Ruby's thin waist. Ruby's lips fell onto the crown of her head instinctively and remained there.
"I'll be anything you want me to be," Ruby promised into Belle's hair. She felt Belle smile against her chest, and her heart thumped wildly.
Exhaustion tugged at their eyes, and they both battled it away, content to stand at the bottom of the grand staircase and simply feel each other. They needed the comfort of safe arms, so sleep waited until they'd had their fill. For the first time in 28 years, Ruby felt as though she'd gotten something right.