Regina took a deep breath, looking back and forth between Ruby and Belle. "I don't know if I can do this," she mumbled.

"You can," Ruby insisted as she pulled on her Quidditch robes. "Don't you want to?"

"Yes, of course … but maybe this isn't the best way."

"Regina," Belle put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Everything's going to be fine."

She swallowed hard before nodding. "All right, if you say so. … Good luck, Ruby," she added, turning to leave the girl's locker room. She stopped, her hand resting on the door frame, and looked back. "And thank you – both of you."

Belle and Ruby smiled at her before she left, closing the door behind her. "Well," Ruby sighed, "I've got to go. I've got a game to win."

Belle smirked, grabbing Ruby's hands. "Be careful," she whispered.

"You know me," teased Ruby softly, pulling Belle closer. She brushed the back of her hand against Belle's cheek lightly. "Find me after the game?"

"You know I will." Belle shoved her hands down in her pockets casually.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of – get over here." She grabbed the lining of Belle's jacket and tugged, sending Belle flying forward into Ruby's lips.

Belle grinned broadly when she pulled back. "Go on, Ruby. You've got a game to win." She pushed her lightly, knowing that if she didn't leave now, she never would. As soon as she was out of sight, Belle covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide the huge smile that had spread across her face.

Ruby sat on her broomstick, her eyes scanning over the field. Gryffindor had a heavy lead of 120 to 60, but none of it mattered if she didn't catch the Snitch. Across the pitch, Philip was clenching the front end of his broom nervously. David had just scored on him again, and for some reason unknown to everyone but Ruby, Mulan kept whacking bludgers at him.

"And that's Emma with the Quaffle. She dodges a bludger, two Chasers, and now it's just Emma and Philip. Will she score again? … No! Excellent block by Hufflepuff's Keeper." Archie Hopper continued to narrate the game, to Ruby's increasing annoyance. It was harder to focus with his constant commentary.

In the stands, she saw Regina moan when Emma didn't score and Belle was booing loudly. She had certainly become an avid Quidditch fan, now sporting her letterman's jacket whenever possible. Although Ruby had an inclination that, most of the time, she chose to do so for other reasons.

Ruby squinted, looking around the pitch, and then she saw it. Right under Frederick's foot. She took off like a rocket, leaning forward as far as her back would allow.

"Wait a moment. It looks like Ruby's seen something. Yes! There it is! The Snitch! And it's too late now! … Yes! She's got it! Gryffindor wins!"

There was an eruption from the stands as Ruby hoisted the Snitch above her head. She landed on the ground only to be tackled by Graham, then August, then Mulan, then David, then Sean and finally Emma, all of whom were shouting deafeningly in her ear.

"Way to go, Ruby!"

"Atta girl, Lucas!"

Graham tousled her hair, and Emma jumped on her back.

Regina stepped onto the center of the field, her voice echoing loudly. "Hello?"

Ruby looked up from under Emma's weight with a smile on her face, glancing at Belle, who was positively beaming at Regina.

Emma fell onto the ground, her eyes wide in surprise. Everyone else seemed to be thinking along the same lines. David moved forward to get her off the pitch, but Ruby pulled him back by the collar of his robes.

"H – hi, everybody," she stuttered. Ruby stifled a laugh. She was stuttering. Regina Mills was actually stuttering, her cheeks turning dark red. "I have something I need to say. … But first I'd like to give Gryffindor their well-earned trophy."

Everyone was so quiet, and just to spare her, Ruby stepped forward and took it from Regina's hands, giving her a nod of encouragement.

Regina took a deep breath as Ruby stepped back over to her teammates. "Um – Emma Swan?"

Emma stepped forward from behind Ruby, her eyes still wide in confusion. As soon as Regina met Emma's eyes, something inside her shifted, and her eyes started to blur.

"You get the MVP award for your ten goals today … if you want it." She held it out and Emma rushed forward to grab it, but Regina caught her wrist before she could go back to her team.

"You drive me insane," she said suddenly. "Emma, you drive me crazy. I can't live with you, and I can't live without you. … And I don't understand it. … But I don't care."

"Regina, what are you doing?" Emma hissed.

"I don't care, Emma! I don't care that I have no idea what I'm doing," she laughed, the nervousness still lodged in the back of her throat. "But I know I should have done this a long time ago."

It was like there was no one else there. Ruby had her fingers crossed behind her back, but Regina did not do what they had planned. She was supposed to say, 'I love you'. But instead, she spun Emma around by her wrist and planted her lips firmly on her girlfriend's.

Emma was caught by surprise but in one swift motion, she threw her MVP trophy over her head and wrapped her arms around Regina's neck, kissing her back desperately. Her hands ran up and down Regina's face, making sure she could not pull away, but Regina did not show a sign that she wanted to. She held Emma against her, one hand on the small of her back, the other tangled in her wavy blonde hair.

Ruby smiled so widely, she couldn't feel her face. She could feel her cheeks dampen as she let out a quiet "Yes!"

To her left, David looked like he was having a heart attack, matching his girlfriend's expression in the stands. Everyone else had their jaws dropped in shock. Everyone but Ruby and Belle, who were looking at each other, tears rolling down their cheeks and grinning broadly.

Finally, after a very long time, Regina pulled away from Emma and looked into the crowd. "That's right! I love her! … I love her!" she shouted. Emma stood beside her, her eyes filled with love and admiration, crying happily as she held Regina's hand. She quieted her voice and turned to Emma with eyes aglow and whispered, "I love you, Emma," before cautiously placing another soft kiss on her lips.

"You were amazing today," Belle complimented, wrapping her arms around Ruby's neck. "Not only in the game, but the way you stood by Emma. Stopping David before he did something asinine."

Ruby smiled proudly, shifting to pull Belle a little closer. "Everyone deserves their moment and I wasn't going to let anyone ruin theirs."

Belle smiled back as she gently brushed her fingertips along the back of Ruby's neck. "You're so sweet."

She leaned in closer to Belle. "Keep that between us." Her eyes darted around the room for a moment. "I kinda want to keep my badass reputation intact." She grinned playfully.

Belle rolled her eyes. "Oh shut up..." she ordered with a small laugh as she moved in closer to kiss her.

Graham cleared his throat loudly, causing them to halt. They both looked up to see him and August hovering over them. Graham was rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. "Hey..." he greeted.

Ruby flashed them a strange look. "Hi…" she returned, slowly. She looked from one boy to the next. "What's up?"

Belle didn't say anything. She remained on Ruby's lap, her hands moving from her love's neck to rest on her own legs. She still hadn't forgotten what they had caused the previous day. She lowered her gaze and stared down at her hands.

Graham opened and closed his mouth several times. August nudged him hard in the back urging him to speak. Graham shot him a look. "You can speak too, you know," he stated harshly.

"True, but you started the whole thing," August shot back.

"You're the one who made the comment about her thigh!"

Belle took in a deep breath and shifted uncomfortably at his statement. Ruby noticed her movement instantly. "Guys!" she shouted, cutting into their bickering. "What do you want?"

August waved his hand and Graham grunted. He placed his hand in his pockets. "Belle, we're sorry," he said causing her to return her attention to him. "We were just messing with Ruby. She didn't tell us anything."

August nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I mean, honestly, we didn't even think you'd hear us – " He stumbled forward due to Graham hitting him in the back. He shot him a dirty look. "What the hell, man?!"

"That's not an apology!"

Ruby's eyes narrowed at August and her jaw started to twitch. Belle placed her hand on her face causing the twitching to slow and eventually stop. She turned her head, her eyes meeting Belle's.

Belle stared back, a soft smile on her lips. "It's okay, guys," she said, breaking her eye contact with Ruby to look at them finally. "I accept your apology."

Graham smiled. He looked at Ruby. "What about you, Lucas? Are we good?"

Ruby kept her focus on Belle. She nodded. "Yeah, we're good."

"Great!" Graham motioned his hand. "Well, we'll let you two get back to ... you know…"

Ruby waved him off as he grabbed August by the arm and pulled him away. She wrapped her arms tightly around Belle. "Now, where were we?"

Belle's smile spread as her hands returned to cup Ruby's face. She moved closer, her lips hovering close to Ruby's. "Right about here," she whispered, pressing their lips together finally.

"Hey guys..." Emma interrupted, jumping onto the couch next to them.

Ruby reluctantly broke the kiss with a groan. Belle's fingers trained down her face as she turned her attention to Emma. "Yes, Emma?"

Emma smiled happily at them. "Thank you … for everything," she said, leaning in to hug them both.

Belle rubbed her back. "We're very happy for you."

Ruby pulled away quickly. "Yeah, ecstatic," she added, trying to nudge Emma off of the couch. "Now go away."

Belle shot her a scolding look. "Ruby!"

Emma laughed. "It's okay. I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to say thank you." She looked at Ruby. "I'm going to meet Regina. If anyone asks…" Her smile widened. "You can tell them exactly where I am." She jumped up from the couch and made her way out of the common room.

Ruby watched her go then turned her attention back to Belle. She leaned in to kiss her, but Belle moved back. She looked at her, confused. "What's wrong?"

"That was rude."

Ruby pouted. "I'm sorry." She linked her hands together behind Belle's back. "I just want to be with you. Alone. These interruptions are..."

"Why didn't you tell me about Emma and Regina?" Mary Margaret questioned, hovering over them with her hands on her hips.

"Annoying…" Ruby finished, with a sigh. She looked up at her friend. "Because it wasn't my place, Mary Margaret."

"How long have you known?"

Ruby shrugged. "A couple of weeks. Not long really."

"I can't believe you didn't say anything." Mary Margret crossed her arms against her chest. "I mean, do you think Regina is right for her? What if she hurts her?"

"She won't. She loves her." Belle added.

Mary Margaret shifted her gaze between both girls. "How can you be sure? I mean, is Regina even capable of loving someone?"

"Mary Margaret, just give her a chance..." Ruby requested, running her hand through her hair in frustration.

Belle noticed the gesture immediately and stood from her girlfriend's lap. She took Ruby's hand in hers. "Mary Margaret, if you'll excuse us," she requested before the girl could say another word. She pulled Ruby from the couch. "Ruby and I have somewhere we need to be."

Mary Margaret sighed. "Okay, fine." She pointed at Ruby. "We'll finish talking about this later."

"I look forward to it," Ruby replied sarcastically as Belle pulled her away. When they were far enough from Mary Margaret, Ruby looked at Belle curiously. "Where exactly do we need to be?"

Belle wrapped her arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Far away from here," she stated, inching up to kiss Ruby's cheek as she hugged her close and they exited the crowded room.