Ruby's mind blanked. She knew Ariel had just asked her a question. It was a question that would normally be so easy to answer. But, the way Belle had been acting all night, responding to Ruby's flirtatious manner with no rejection, she wasn't sure how to respond. She hopped off the table which put her even closer to Belle than she had been previously. Her eyes locking with her friends as she attempted to make a request she really did not want to make.

"Can you give us a second?" she asked.

Belle's jaw shifted as she closed her mouth tightly. She nodded her head, refusing to give a verbal response. She forced a smile toward Ariel and walked away to join Emma in gathering their drinks.

Ruby walked the tiny distance toward Ariel, but it felt like miles. "I thought you were staying in tonight?" she inquired, obviously trying to shift the direction of the conversation.

"I was, but Eric wanted to grab a dr—" Ariel stopped mid sentence, shaking her head. "Hang on, don't change the subject." She looked into Ruby's eyes. "What did I just walk up on?"

Ruby pushed her hands in her pockets. "We were just talking."

Ariel stared at her. "Okay, Ruby, if you say so." she conceded.

"Ariel.." Ruby reached out for her, but Ariel stepped back.

Ariel held her hands up defensively. "I don't want to ruin your night with your friends." She lowered her hand, still keeping her distance from Ruby. "And I definitely do not want to make a scene in this bar." She lowered her head for a moment. She took in a deep breath and stepped toward Ruby finally. "Tomorrow morning we need to talk." She leaned up, kissing Ruby quickly on the cheek before turning and walking away.

Ruby muttered a curse, running her hand roughly through her hair. Emma walked back over with Belle. She watched as Ariel walked away and joined a dark haired man at the bar. She walked over to Ruby, handing her the drink which Ruby downed quickly.

Emma watched her with a raised eyebrow. "Is everything okay?"

Ruby swallowed hard, placing the now empty glass on the table. "Nope." she responded, wiping her mouth with her hand.

Belle huffed. "I guess that's what happens when you invite your girlfriend to girls night." she muttered as both Emma and Ruby looked at her strangely.

"I did not invite her." Ruby stated, confused by where this was coming from.

Belle rolled her eyes. "Yeah, she just happened to show up."

Ruby made a face. "It's a public place, Belle! Of course she just showed up!"

"Oh boy…" Emma breathed as she walked away from them and walked over to the jukebox….

The argument continued the entire walk back to Emma's. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was just all of the pent up emotions bubbling over, but the argument grew louder, stronger, and was starting to make zero sense. Emma couldn't take it. When they reached her home, she sent them as far away from her as possible. Informing them that they need to work this out and she was going to bed.

They ended up in the guest room. Screaming at one another over something that had become a complete blur. Ruby pressed her hands to her temples. Arguing with Belle felt like being on a rollercoaster. A series of drops and loops. There were even misguided turns. Nothing that was happening made sense. She couldn't deal with this any longer.

She held her hand out, stopping Belle in mid sentence. "I can't do this anymore." she proclaimed, shaking her head slowly. "I don't even remember why or how this argument started."

Belle looked away, crossing her arms against her chest. She pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to speak. Her jaw clenched then twitched as the words battled to release themselves from her lips.

"I don't know what I've done to make is so easy for you to get pissed off at me lately." Ruby said, breaking into the silence that filled the room. "But I'm sorry."

Belle closed her eyes at her words. This wasn't Ruby's fault. This was hers. All those years of pent up emotion, of regret, all bubbled to the surface and came spilling out with one tiny statement.

"It's not your fault. I brought this on myself." she spoke softly. She doubted Ruby could hear her. She could barely hear herself. "I should have just let my feelings for you bury themselves. I never should have kissed you that night…." The words tumbled from her lips before she had a chance to stop them. Her eyes closed instantly as she cursed herself repeatedly.

Ruby felt her heart stop. She furrowed her brow as she cautiously stepped toward Belle. "Wh-what did you just say?"

Belle shook her head fiercely, refusing to look at her.

"You said you didn't remember anything from that night…" Ruby reminded, stepping more quickly toward her.

Belle still didn't look at her. Her eyes shifted to the ceiling as she bounced nervously in place.

Ruby was behind her now. Her heart beating so rapidly, she was sure it would break free from her chest. "You remember kissing me?"

Belle swallowed back the lump in her throat and nodded slowly.

"Y-you wanted to kiss me?"

Belle breathed out, raggedily. Ruby was so close. Her teeth pressed hard into her bottom lip. "Yes…" she confessed, softly.

Ruby stammered. Her head was spinning. Had they seriously wasted this much time because they were both afraid to say how they felt? Ruby refused to waste anymore. She couldn't. She needed her to know.

Without another word, Ruby turned Belle around to look at her. Her hands instantly cupped her cheeks as she looked into her watery blue eyes. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Her knees were growing weak, her body was shaking with anticipation.

Belle stared back at her. Waiting. "Ruby…" she pleaded, softly.

Before she could finish, Ruby's lips were on hers. She whimpered at the contact, falling deeply into the moment. Ruby's hands lowered, gripped her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. Belle wrapped her arms around her neck, her hands tangling in her soft, dark hair. They kissed slowly, deeply. Every bit of want, need for each other pouring through every movement of their lips against one another's.

This was what it felt like to kiss someone you truly loved. Ruby remembered this feeling. It was the way she felt when Belle kissed her all those years ago. She felt her body being tugged forward. Her feet started to move, stumbling blindly until she fell forward, landing on top of Belle. They crawled up the bed in unison, their kiss unbreakable. She felt Belle's hands shift from her hair to her chest. Her fingers working quickly to unbutton her shirt.

It was then that Ruby pulled back, abruptly breaking their kiss. "Belle…wait.. hold on.." she requested, her breathing heavy and ragged.

Belle looked up at her confused. "What's the matter?" she questioned, a worried tone lacing her voice.

Ruby's hazel eyes danced over her features. She gently brushed her cheek with the tips of her fingers. "I love you." she stated, watching as the smile spread across Belle's lips.

Belle felt herself start to cry. It was the first time in awhile they were tears of joy. "I love you, Ruby. I always have. I was just to scared to admit it." She reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind Ruby's ear. "My heart has belong to one person.. and it's always been you."

Ruby smiled broadly at her admission. She leaned down kissing her again. She pulled back slowly, her eyes remained closed as her lips hovered over Belle's. "I've waited so long to hear you say you love me.." she whispered, enjoying the feeling of Belle's lips against her chin then softly making their way up her jawline. "So…" She paused, loosing her train of thought when Belle's lips came in contact with her ear. She shuttered, feeling Belle's smile spread against her cheek. "You'll.. Uh… understand why we shouldn't go any further tonight…"

Belle stopped her advances. She looked her in the eyes again. "You don't want too.."

"No, I do! I do!" Ruby corrected, quickly. "So badly it hurts." She touched Belle's face again. "But, I've been planning this perfect moment in my head since I was sixteen. I want that perfect moment with you." She smiled. "We deserve it."

Belle couldn't argue with her. Even though she wanted to be with Ruby more than anything, she understood. She wanted their perfect moment as well. They had waited so long for it. It was worth waiting a bit longer.

"Okay…" Belle agreed, unable to stop caressing the beautiful face hovering above her. "But, I do have one small request."

"Anything you want. It's yours."

Belle looked into her eyes, hopefully. "Stay with me tonight?" she requested. "I want to wake up with you and know that this isn't just a dream."

Ruby's smile spread. "There's no where else I'd rather be." she stated as she leaned in closer to kiss her love once again….