A/N I'm bracing myself for the lecture I'm about to get for updating so slowly. (Tip for writers...DO NOT try and write several long stories at the same time). Something you should all know: I just got a job and therefore cannot promise I'll be updating swiftly which I know sucks terribly. I'll try to keep up as much as possible, but here comes the question I wish to ask you all. Would you rather have less frequently updated chapters with longer content, OR more frequent and just whatever I have time to write? (I'll try to keep it with at least 1k words)?

Please leave your answers in the reviews which I highly encourage. :) Btw...if you haven't feel more than welcome to add me on Tumblr. (Femphoenix). I may possibly have updates on when I'm working on chapters and what not.

"How long do you think she's known?" Belle asked as she peeked up from her book, sitting cross-legged on Ruby's bed with a plaid blanket wrapped around her knees. One would think that after that intense moment at the diner things would have been a bit differently once entering safe walls of the wolf's den, but out of all things Belle wanted to do it was to read.

The wolf-girl sat on the floor upon her rug, not because she didn't want to be near the librarian, but for the fact that animal habits were hard to break. She simply preferred the hard surface underneath her rather than the bed at the moment.

"Who? Granny? Probably long before I ever even realized."

She said it nonchalantly as if it wasn't a big deal, but a grin was plastered across her face. The book that was in the librarian's hand was placed gently down onto her lap and she smiled softly.

"When did you realize?"

"That I…my feelings for you?"

"Mhm."

Pale skin reddened as she remembered the first moment she saw Belle walk into the diner.

"I fell for you the moment I saw you drinking that iced tea, but I didn't realize just how important you were to me until I thought I lost you forever."

Brown locks fell over her face as she averted her gaze to the floor beneath her. It was hard to think that the tragedy happened two months ago. The pain of losing Belle had stained her heart; she couldn't bear losing another one that she loved so dear.

"Hey," Belle whispered as she leaned down and reached for Ruby's hand; the distance between them made the scene rather awkward, but the wolf-girl took the extended hand. "If that didn't happen then I might not have ever realized just how important you were to me. I was so lost in hoping that Rumpel would change that it clouded everything else and I didn't see you right there before me. You were always there for me, even when I didn't know who I was, and not once did you give up. I should have noticed it earlier; I was so blinded that I didn't see that the wolf was there protecting me."

Ruby couldn't move. She was well aware of the tears rimming her eyes and knew that if she even dared to budge the dam would break. Her shy eyes slowly looked up to meet warm blue ones.

"It's my duty to protect you," she whispered which made the librarian's face turn as red as the blanket.

"Says who?" she teased.

"Says me."

And with that, and a wicked grin, the wolf-girl tugged on the other's arm and pulled her off of the bed, into her arms. It wasn't the most romantic attempt as they both now laid on top of one another in a jumbled mess, but neither could build up the urge to care.

Brown locks from the woman above her fell over Ruby's face as she leaned up, capturing delicate lips that tasted like bliss. It was soft and slow, taking their time. Unlike earlier, under the rush of surprise and joy, they needn't speed past such beautiful moments as such.

Strong arms wrapped around the librarian's waist pulling the growing warmth flush against her. That was all she needed to survive; Belle's warm touch, her warm body against her. She would never freeze in the coldest of nights so long as Belle was at her side.

Belle pulled back just an inch and blue eyes fell upon slowly opening green gems. Ruby already had a killer smile, but it became even more breathless with that stunning twinkle in her emerald eyes. Her thumb began tracing circles along the wolf's cheek that slowly made their way to curls lips. The waitress pressed a gentle kiss against her thumb before Belle spoke softly.

"You know you're beautiful, right?"

Pale flesh became red once more. She leaned up and kissed Belle hard in response. The librarian had no idea just how happy she was.

I should have kissed you at the lake, Ruby thought to herself, but inwardly shook her head. No; that would have been too soon. They needed that time to realize what they meant to each other.

She would beg Granny to give her the day off tomorrow. The consequences of their coming actions deemed that to be the most appropriate decision, for Ruby refused to leave Belle's touch. That fear of losing her once more clung onto her soul like a blood-stained fabric; it was hard to wash out, but with time it would fade.

Behind her racing heart was a curious mind that had been curious about the conversation between Gold and Belle. The librarian didn't seem hurt, yet she knew that the man did not take well to people stealing his stuff.

Not that she was yours anyways. She's mine. However, she knew that if Belle ever decided to leave, if she ever thought that this was a mistake, she would let her go without quarrel no matter how much it would kill her heart.

"Ruby?"

"Hm?"

Without thought, slender fingers ran along skin clad thighs, pushing the material of the dress up ever so slightly each time which had the woman above blushing and giggling at the same time.

"Did you really mean we could sleep under the stars together?"

Suddenly Ruby's hands stopped as she was brought back to the moment where she found Belle sleeping in her room, having waited for the wolf all night long. That was the moment when they both realized that they couldn't live without one another, yet they were so afraid to ruin what they had.

"I did," Ruby finally replied.

"Can we do that soon?"

Bringing her hands to the librarian's face she placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and whispered.

"Of course we can." She left her lips on the warm skin, but quickly pulled away when she thought she heard Belle say something. "What?"

"When is the next full moon?"

Green eyes widened, but then her brows furrowed. Belle wanted Ruby to be in wolf form. A raging fear, so very familiar from a past that seems ages ago yet so much like yesterday, ran through her entire being.

"Belle, I …we can't."

"Why not?" the librarian's smile dropped as she realized what was wrong. "You don't trust yourself do you?"

Red shook her head only once.

"Do you remember what I told you before? You can't hurt me; I know you."

"But you don't know that…Ruby, look at me," green eyes had diverted to somewhere else in the room, but wearily slid back, "I know you're afraid and I'm not going to make you do something you don't want to do, but I know you. After everything we have been through I know just how strong you are."

She slid her hand onto Red's chest, above her heart.

"But, Belle—"

"—I trust the wolf with all of my heart."

She left it off with a gentle kiss, silencing any other argument that Ruby was sure to have. The woman underneath hummed in approval as lips moved in sync with one another, and a velvet tongue flicked against her bottom lip.

Open lips greeted the intruder as her own tongue met the other in a slow, deliberate battle. The wolf's hands found their way back to the other's thighs and began to slide the dress up and eventually over her head.

Belle was like an open book now. All of her walls had come crashing down as she offered herself to the wolf. She trusted her with all of her being; now it was time for Ruby to trust herself.