Chapter 4
The lunchtime rush was in full swing at Granny's diner, the building packed full to bursting with hungry townsfolk. Ruby used a spatula to flip the burger she was cooking for Belle over on the grill, grinding her teeth irritably as she did. Granny was busy chastising her for the large, bright red hickey on her neck that Shae had left her with from the night before.
"I thought you'd stop all this whoring around now that the curse is broken." Granny spat as she furiously scrubbed at a dish in the sink.
"I'm not whoring around!" Ruby cried in reply.
"Then why won't you tell me who you got that thing from, hm?" Granny asked, pointing a soapy finger at Ruby's neck.
"Because, it's none of your damn business!" Shouted Ruby. "I'm a grown woman, Granny, I can do what I want."
"Well, you certainly aren't behaving like one!" Granny shouted back. "Coming home in the middle of the night with a hickey the size of Texas on your neck."
"Will you just drop it already?" Ruby pleaded, grabbing the plate of fries and a bun that she already had ready and slapping the burger onto it.
Ruby's eye began to twitch in irritation as Granny followed her toward the front of the diner. "I'll drop it as soon as you tell me who you've been messing around with!"
"I told you! It's none of your-" Ruby began to say again, but stopped dead when she saw Shae standing in front of the diner's door.
Her and Granny had been too busy arguing to notice that a sudden hush had fallen over the diner. All seven of the dwarves, and several other residents, all rose to their feet, glaring menacingly at the vampire.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Granny snarled. "I told you, you're not welcome here! Get out!"
"Listen, I'm not here to pick a fight, ok?" Shae said in an even tone.
"Hey, I remember you!" Belle suddenly said, getting up from her barstool. "You used to work for The Evil Queen! You're the one that kidnapped me and locked me in that damn tower!"
Shae swallowed hard, her eyes shifting around from one angry Storybrooke resident to another. "Well, you know, technically Regina locked you in the tower. I just kinda… Put you there."
"By her order!" Belle replied heatedly.
"So, have you come to kidnap someone else for The Queen?" Growled Grumpy. "She's working for Regina again, you know."
"Of course you are." Belle said, narrowing her eyes at the vampire.
"Look, I told you, I'm not here to start a fight-" Shae began defensively.
"Then get out!" Granny cut her off furiously, pointing at the door.
"Everyone, just calm down!" Ruby shouted over the din of angry muttering. "How many times do I have to tell you? She's not going to hurt anyone!"
Belle turned to her friend Ruby, her eyes wide with confusion. "Wait a minute, are you friends with her or something?"
"Yeah, actually, I am." Ruby replied with a confidant nod.
"What?" Exclaimed Belle.
"How can you be friends with that monster?" Grumpy snarled.
"Standing right here, dude." Shae said irritably.
"She's not a monster, she's actually a pretty good person." Said Ruby in Shae's defense.
"How can someone who slept with The Evil Queen be a good person?" Snarled Granny.
"She did what?" Belle asked incredulously.
"ENOUGH!"
The diners all gasped in shock as their plates, cups, and silverware all rose into the air. They all turned their heads toward Shae, whose eyes were glowing bright red.
"Now, if everyone would just shut their damn traps for a second, that'd be great." Shae went on in a dangerously calm voice.
There was a loud clattering as the vampire's eyes faded back to normal, the kitchenware all falling back onto the tables. Shae cleared her throat, folding her arms over her chest.
"Much better, thank you." She said, a bit sarcastically. "Now then, I'm looking for Regina. She's been missing since last night."
"Good riddance." Spat Granny. "Why don't you go missing with her?"
"As much as I know you would all love that, it's a little hard when I can't find her." Shae snarled back through gritted teeth. "That's why I'm here. I need help."
"You're an idiot if you think we're going to help you." Grumpy replied with a snort of mocking laughter.
"Not you, numb nuts. I need Ruby." Shae replied, turning her eyes onto the young woman.
"Me?" Ruby asked, eyebrows raised in shock.
Shae nodded. "I tracked her scent to Archie's office, but he hasn't seen her since last night either, and I can't pick up the trail again. Your nose is a lot stronger than mine."
"She's not going anywhere with you!" Belle said angrily, taking a defiant step forward.
Ruby set the plate she was still holding onto the counter. "Belle, it's alright." She told her friend. "She won't hurt me, I promise."
Ruby didn't wait for a response from either Belle or her grandmother. She marched over to the coat rack by the door, grabbed her jacket, and followed Shae out the door.
"Hey, you need to be more careful next time, ok?" Ruby said in a low voice as they hurried down the sidewalk toward Archie's office.
"Careful with what?" Asked Shae.
Ruby turned her head, pointing to the hickey on her neck. Shae's eyes widened with shock. "Oh, wow, that's a big one." She said. "Sorry about that. I get a little carried away sometimes."
Ruby grinned, giving her a playful shove. "I know, and I kinda like it. Just nothing visible to the public next time, alright?"
Shae grinned back, nodding in agreement. They stopped on the sidewalk outside of Archie's office, and Shae pulled a black sock out of her pocket, handing it to Ruby.
"Really? A sock?" Ruby asked.
"What, would you rather I'd used her panties or something?" Shae asked in reply.
Ruby grimaced. "Ugh, no!"
"Well!" Shae said with a shrug.
Ruby rolled her eyes, giving Regina's sock a careful sniff. She then turned on the spot, sniffing the air as her nostrils caught the scent. Shae trailed along next to her as the she-wolf followed Regina's scent, leading them away from the main street.
"So, why was Regina with Archie last night?" Ruby questioned as they walked.
Shae shrugged. "I dunno. I guess even evil queens need counseling sometimes."
"But why didn't she wait for you to get back?" Ruby went on. "You said she never leaves her house without you."
"Archie asked her the same thing." Shae replied. "She said she didn't want me to know that she was… Struggling, I guess. She didn't want to seem weak. Thought I'd use it to my advantage or something."
Ruby stopped suddenly as they came up to the cemetery. "This way." She said, continuing to follow the scent through the iron gates.
Regina's trail led them right to her father's mausoleum. Shae and Ruby entered, pushing the coffin aside and descending the steps into Regina's vault.
"Regina? Regina!" Shae called out.
When they got no response, they made their way deeper into the vault, rounding the corner down another hallway passed the mirror that Shae had often investigated.
"Hold on. This door was never open before." Shae muttered, staring at a wooden door that was standing slightly open.
She pushed it open all the way, and inside they found a small room, with nothing inside but an empty glass coffin.
"This looks kinda like the one she put Snow in when she was under the sleeping curse." Ruby mused. "Who do you think was in here?"
"Daniel." Shae breathed, staring down at the coffin sadly.
"Who's Daniel?"
"The guy Regina was in love with before she became Queen." Shae replied.
"Oh, yeah. Snow was the one who got him killed." Ruby muttered.
"Well, technically Regina's mother killed him. But Snow was the one that told Cora about him, about how they were going to run away together."
"Yeah, Snow told me the story." Ruby said. "But how is Daniel's body here? Did Regina… Save it, or something?"
Shae nodded. "She preserved him with magic. She just… Couldn't let go."
"I guess I can't blame her." Ruby said sadly. "I probably would have done the same thing with Peter if I could have."
Shae nodded sadly, and they both stood in silence for a few moments, brows furrowed as they started down at the glass coffin.
"So where's the body now?" Ruby eventually asked. "I mean… It's not like a dead guy can just get up and walk away."
Shae gasped suddenly, grabbing on to Ruby's arm. "Oh… Oh no…" She muttered, her face full of panic. "We have to get to the hospital, fast!"
Ruby hurried after Shae as the vampire took long strides back toward the stairs, taking them two at a time. "Shae! What's going on?" She asked worriedly.
"Have you heard the story of Frankenstein?" Shae asked her, giving her a quick, sideways glance.
"Uh, yeah, why?"
"Dr. Whale, he's Dr. Frankenstein." Shae replied. "And I think he's finally created his monster."
"What are you talking about?"
"Regina told me one time that she brought Dr. Frankenstein to The Enchanted Forest to try and bring Daniel back. He couldn't do it, but now I think he has."
"You can't be serious." Ruby said. "How can you even be sure it was Daniel anyway?"
"Because, I've seen it before, seen him." Shae answered darkly. "Regina kept him in her castle back home, and I guess she brought him with her. She never really could let go of Daniel, not even when we were together. I guess I get it, though. You never really forget your first real love."
XXXXX
Shae's boot steps echoed down the hallway as she wandered the mostly empty halls of The Evil Queen's castle. It had been three days since she had become Regina's royal protector, and the vampire had spent every sleepless night wandering the palace, familiarizing herself with it's layout. As The Queen's protector, she thought it important to get to know the castle from top to bottom, to find any weak points that a potential assassin could enter from.
She stopped suddenly, listening hard as her sensitive hearing picked a strange sound. She followed the noise, descending slowly down a spiral stone staircase. The sound grew louder, and Shae realized that it was of someone sniffling, crying.
She reached the bottom of the staircase, and continued down a long hallway, stopping just outside of a nearby doorway. Her brow furrowed when she found The Queen inside, standing in front of what looked to be a glass coffin. Shae could see a pair of legs lying in the coffin, Regina's back blocking the rest of the body from view.
The Queen suddenly whirled around when she felt someone watching her. "What are you doing down here?" She demanded, hastily wiping tears from her face.
"Apologies, my Queen, I was exploring the castle when I heard a woman crying." Shae explained, giving her a small bow.
"And you thought you'd just barge in?" Regina replied, glowering at the vampire.
Shae gave a small shrug, spreading her arms wide. "What can I say? I've never been one to ignore a damsel in distress."
She gave The Queen another one of her cheeky smiles, but Her Majesty was obviously not amused. She turned back to the coffin, and Shae cleared her throat awkwardly. Her eyes widened as she stepped up next to Regina. A young man was lying in the coffin, looking as if he were only sleeping.
"Oh… I-Is this-" Shae began to ask.
"Daniel." Regina finished for her, in a tone of immense sadness.
Shae nodded slowly, her normal casual and joking demeanor disappearing. "I see. I was curious to find out what had happened to him, but thought it wasn't my place to ask."
"No, it wasn't." Regina agreed, shooting Shae a quick, furious glance.
Shae fell silent for a moment, staring down at Daniel's body. "Is he-" She started to ask again.
"Dead? Yes. He has been since the day after you came to this world." Regina replied, a stray tear running down her cheek. "I preserved his body with magic. I… I just… I couldn't-"
"Couldn't let go." Shae finished for her, smiling sadly.
Regina nodded, turning her eyes back to the man she loved lying dead in the coffin before her. "You were right, you know, all those years ago." She said in a voice barely above a whisper.
When Shae only gave her a puzzled look, she went on. "You told me love would only bring me pain."
Shae sighed, running a hand slowly through her messy black hair. "Well, I didn't want to be right. I'm very sorry."
Regina gave her a weak smile, took one last look at her deceased lover, then turned away from the coffin. Shae followed her as she left the room and back up the spiral staircase. Regina led them into her study, pouring two glasses of wine and handing one to Shae.
"To Daniel." Shae said, raising her glass.
"To Daniel." Regina echoed as she also raised her glass.
They sat in front of the fire that was crackling in the fireplace, drinking in silence for a few long moments. "Today is the anniversary of his death." Regina said eventually. "I couldn't sleep. I rarely sleep anymore because of Daniel. He haunts my dreams nearly every night."
Shae nodded sadly, staring down into her glass. "I suppose I should be glad that vampires don't sleep." She replied. "I imagine my own dreams would be plagued by… By what I lost."
"Who was she?" Regina asked her.
Shae sighed heavily, taking another large sip of her wine. She then leaned forward in her chair, placing her elbows on her knees. "Nadia." She finally said. "Her name was Nadia."
"Tell me about her."
Shae glanced away from Regina and into the fire, taking another long while to respond. When she did, her voice was soft, free of its normal light and casual ring.
"She was… My world, my everything." She finally said, glancing back at Regina and smiling sadly. "She was so smart, funny, and beautiful to boot. She had this gorgeous brown hair that always smelled like lavender, and these piercing blue eyes. Well, before they turned red like mine, anyway."
"She was a vampire too then?" Asked Regina.
"Well, not at first. Do you remember the man I spoke of when we first met, my friend, Remus?" Shae asked, and went on when Regina nodded. "She was his younger sister. We grew up together, the three of us. Thick as thieves, we were. Nadia and I didn't actually fall in love until after we were turned, though. I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps it had to due with how vampires feel differently than humans do."
"What do you mean?" Regina questioned, her brow furrowing.
"It's… A bit difficult to explain…" Shae answered slowly. "Along with heightened senses, we vampires also have heightened emotions. We feel more… Intensely, than humans do. We don't just get angry, we rage. We aren't just sad, we're miserable. And when we love… Well, that person becomes… Everything. More often than not, when vampires fall in love, it's for life, no matter how long that may be."
Shae leaned back in her chair, staring into the fire again, her eyes worlds away. "When the three of us were turned, Remus and I struggled with the nature of the creatures we had become." She went on, a wistful smile on her face. "But Nadia, she was the one that kept us from being swallowed by our own misery. She taught us to see what we had become as a gift, not a curse. She always had a knack for finding the tiniest glimmer of hope where most would see only darkness. Any time I've ever fallen on hard times I try to think about what she would say. Probably something like, 'Don't be such a twat!'"
Regina laughed. "Really?"
Shae laughed too, nodding slowly. "Oh, yes, she was quite vulgar at times. She was never afraid to say anything that was on her mind, no matter if it was rude or not. It was one of the things I loved most about her."
Regina breathed out another chuckle, taking another sip of her wine. Her smile then faded, and she cleared her throat lightly. "What… Happened to her?"
Shae's smile faded as well, her lips curling into a dark scowl. "Van Helsing." She snarled.
"I see." Regina replied. "He… Killed her?"
Shae nodded, digging her fingers into the arm of her chair. "After he turned us, Dracula took us to his castle, and we served him there for a long time. He kept a supply of humans in his dungeon for us and the rest of his children to feed on. When they had… Finished serving their purpose, he would send us out to collect more. He had gotten word that there was a large group of weary travellers near the castle, unarmed and defenseless."
Shae's teeth showed through her lips as her snarl worsened. "But it was a trap. Van Helsing and his men were disguised as the travellers, and more were lying in wait nearby. We tried to fight them off, tried to escape, but we were outnumbered."
Regina bit her lip as she saw a single tear roll down the vampire's cheek. "Van Helsing, he turned into his wolf form. I was badly injured, and… Nadia… She was bitten." Shae went on, her voice breaking with emotion. "Remus he… He tried to save her by using an ancient spell. But it failed. There was nothing I could do. She… She died in my arms. I watched as the light left her eyes."
Shae squeezed her eyes shut, more tears rolling down her cheeks. They sat in silence for a long while, both staring into the fire with heavy hearts, thinking about their lost loves.
"How long has it been?" Regina asked quietly.
Shae wiped the tears off her face before turning her eyes onto Regina. "I'm not sure anymore." She answered. "Many, many years. Why?"
"I've heard people say that time heals all wounds." Regina replied. "Is it true?"
Shae stared silently at her for a moment, her red eyes still glistening with tears. She then slowly shook her head, and Regina's heart sunk.
"No, it's not." She said sadly. "Time only numbs the pain, makes it a bit easier to handle, but only for a time. I still see her face whenever I close my eyes, still hear her voice in the silence. And sometimes, in the dead of night, when the whole rest of the world is fast asleep, I can hear her laughing. It always sounds so close, as if she's waiting for me just around the corner. But, at the same time, so terribly, terribly far away."
Regina nodded slowly, taking in everything that Shae had said. "Thank you." She said, giving the vampire a small smile.
Shae looked puzzled again. "For what? I doubt that was the answer you wanted."
"Which is precisely why I'm thanking you." Regina said in reply. "I fear due to my… Position, and their general fear of me, people around me often tell me only what they think I want to hear. I appreciate your honesty."
Shae smiled another one of her quirky smiles. "Well, then, I'll make absolutely sure to never tell you anything you want to hear."
They both laughed lightly, sipping more of their wine. Silence fell over them again as the fire continued to crackle and pop.
"Well, it seems we are kindred souls, both on a quest for revenge against the ones who stole our happiness away." Regina eventually said, smiling sadly at the vampire. "Snow White is the one responsible for Daniel's death."
"Ah, I see. I've seen the wanted posters all over the forest." Shae replied. "So she killed Daniel?"
Regina grimaced, staring back into the fire. "Not exactly. My mother was the one that killed him, but Snow White was the one that told her about him in the first place. The wretched girl caught us together one night, and I told her, begged her not to tell my mother, and she promised she wouldn't."
"I'm guessing she didn't keep that promise." Shae said knowingly.
"No, she did not." Regina spat angrily.
"Well, here's hoping that you get the revenge you deserve, Your Majesty." Shae said, raising her glass momentarily, then draining the rest of the wine.
"And what about yours?" Asked Regina, after she had also emptied her glass. "I remember you saying when we first met that you were going to kill Van Helsing."
Shae sighed, staring sadly down into her empty glass. "Yes, well, after too many failed attempts I'm afraid I've had to give up on ever seeing my revenge, especially after the last time. I would have been burnt to a crisp if it wasn't for your timely arrival. No, Van Helsing is just too strong."
Regina leaned forward in her chair, grinning deviously at the vampire. "Perhaps you don't have to give up on getting your revenge."
Shae gave her a quizzical glance. "Judging by the look on your face, I'm guessing you're going to tell me exactly why I shouldn't."
"Indeed." Regina replied with a nod. "I propose we amend our… Arrangement."
Shae raised an eyebrow silently at The Queen, and Regina's grin broadened as she leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers in front of her.
"I think we can help each other in more ways than you originally thought." Regina went on, still grinning at the vampire.
"Is that so? Do tell." Shae replied, grinning back at her.
"I have powerful magic now, and an entire army of soldiers, neither of which even Van Helsing and his ilk could stand against." Regina explained. "Help me get my revenge on Snow White, and I will help you with yours."
Shae's grin disappeared, and, momentarily, she looked disappointed. She then shrugged, and nodded at The Queen. "Yes, I think I can agree to that."
Regina smiled, then got up from her chair, pouring two more glasses of wine. Shae stood as well as Regina stepped up to her, handing her a glass.
"A toast!" Regina announced, grinning wickedly. "To a deal well struck."
Shae clinked her glass against Regina's, a grin just as evil and devious as The Queen's stretching across her pale gray face.
"To revenge."
XXXXX
Shae and Ruby ran back to the diner, where they got into Ruby's car that was parked outside. Ruby drove them hastily to the hospital and, once they arrived, they made a shocking discovery. Dr. Whale had been admitted as a patient after suffering a gruesome injury; His whole arm had been torn completely off.
"Who the hell did this?" Ruby asked as her and Shae stood in Whale's hospital room, staring down at the now one armed doctor in his bed.
"Daniel." Whale muttered in reply.
"So I was right." Shae said, her eyes wide with shock. "You did it. You actually brought him back."
Whale grimaced in pain, then shook his head. "No. Whatever that thing is, it's not Daniel. It's my brother all over again. He's… He's a monster!"
Ruby and Shae exchanged a silent, worried glance. "Did Regina come and see you?" Shae asked the doctor.
Whale nodded, his face twisting in pain again. "She was just here, her and Charming."
"Do you know where they went?" Asked Ruby.
"I heard them say something about the stables." Whale replied.
"The stables?" Ruby asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would they go there?"
"I don't know, doesn't matter. Come on, we gotta go!" Shae said hurriedly.
Her and Ruby rushed toward the door, but Shae turned back to Whale. "Um, sorry about the arm, man." She said. "And, uh, sorry I punched you in the face. We're cool, right?"
"Shae!"
"Right, yeah, not a good time. Ok, thanks, bye!"
XX
Ruby and Shae got back into Ruby's car, and she drove as fast she could to the stables on the outskirts of town. Just as they were getting out of the car, they spotted Henry running out the door, looking terrified.
"Henry? What's going on, are you ok?" Ruby asked as they boy ran over to them.
"It's my mom!" Henry replied, breathing heavily. "Her and David, they're in there with some other guy! He tried to kill me!"
"Shit!" Shae swore, running off toward the stable doors.
"Stay here!" Ruby told Henry as she ran after Shae.
Shae threw open the doors and rushed inside, Ruby close behind her. They turned to their left, and were just about to round the corner when they ran into David.
"What's going on? Where's Regina?" Shae asked him, grabbing him roughly by the shoulders.
"Back there, with Daniel." David answered, looking almost as frightened as Henry did. "Whale brought him back, but he's not himself, he's-"
"Yeah, yeah, we know!" Shae cut him off impatiently. "Is Regina ok?"
"I don't know." David replied. "She told me to leave, insisted that she could talk to him."
"Dammit, Regina!" Shae snarled, pushing past David and running around the corner, Ruby hot on her heels.
Regina was at the very end of the hallway of stables. Daniel was standing before her, his back on Shae and Ruby. Regina threw her arms around him, her face glistening with tears. Shae slowed to a stop, turning to Ruby and silently putting out a hand, gesturing for her to stay back.
"I can't believe it's really you." Regina was saying to Daniel, her eyes streaming with tears.
Daniel suddenly cried out in pain, stumbling backward, clutching his head. Regina didn't notice Shae or Ruby, too focused on the man she loved.
"Stop it! Stop the pain!" Daniel cried out, doubling over in pain.
"How?" Regina asked him desperately.
Daniel stumbled forward, grabbing Regina by the arms. Shae took a step forward as well, but stopped when Daniel gently cupped Regina's face in his hands.
"Let me go." He whispered to her.
Regina shook her head, gripping his arms tightly as more tears streamed down her face. "No… No, I can't." Regina said, choking out a sob. "I won't lose you again!"
Shae turned back to glance at Ruby, who was watching silently with a hand over her mouth. Regina placed her hands on Daniel's chest, sobbing again.
"Daniel, I love you." She whispered.
Daniel took Regina's hands in his. "Then love again."
Suddenly, Daniel clutched his head again, crying out in pain. He stumbled a few steps backward, then suddenly straightened up again, standing rigidly still. He tilted his head to the side, staring at Regina for a long, silent moment. He then rushed forward, his arms outstretched aggressively at Regina. Shae took a few steps forward, but stopped again when Regina raised her hand, magically freezing Daniel in place.
Regina let out another strangled sob as she slowly waved her hand, and Shae and Ruby both watched in silent horror as Daniel faded away into dust. Regina gasped when she suddenly noticed Shae standing right behind where Daniel had been.
"Shae!" She sobbed, reaching her arms out toward the vampire.
Ruby watched as, without a second thought, without a moment of hesitation, Shae ran forward, grabbing Regina's arms as she fell to her knees. Shae went down with her, wrapping her arms tightly around Regina. Regina sobbed into Shae's chest, gripping the front of her jacket.
"Regina, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Shae whispered as she held her in her arms.
Ruby bit her lip, standing locked in her spot as she watched Shae with Regina. She couldn't imagine the kind of pain Regina was in right now, but she still couldn't help but feel… Jealous. Even though Shae didn't have a heart, she still seemed to care an awful lot about Regina. Ruby silently wondered if Shae cared about her like that.
Ruby jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around, finding David standing behind her, watching Shae and Regina sadly.
"Come on, we should go." He said quietly.
Ruby glanced back at Shae for a moment, then nodded, following David out of the stables. On her drive back to the diner, Ruby wrestled with the things she was feeling. She and Shae had never talked about what exactly it was that they were doing, and Ruby had never felt like they had needed to. At least, not until now. Seeing Shae holding another woman in her arms made her blood boil with jealousy, especially since it had been Regina.
There was so much history between Shae and Regina, and Ruby couldn't help but wonder if there was still something there. She clenched her fists around her steering wheel, the very thought making her seethe with anger. As she realized how angry she was, she grew very confused. She hadn't realized until now exactly how she felt about Shae, and she knew that, without her heart, Shae would never feel the same way.
Ruby gripped her steering wheel tighter, grinding her teeth as she fought back tears. She knew that she had a choice to make. She either had to tell Shae how she felt, or end things between them. She just didn't know what exactly to do, and the one person that she wanted to talk to about it, the one person she felt she could talk to about anything, was Shae herself.
XX
Later that night, Shae was seated at the piano in Regina's dining room, playing a soft and somber melody. Shae had chosen not to meet Ruby at their usual spot in the woods this time, choosing instead to stay with Regina, who had been locked in her bedroom since they got home. Shae knew what Regina had done just hours ago had been the right choice, but she couldn't imagine having to watch someone she loved die a second time. It was much too cruel, even for The Evil Queen.
Shae found herself thinking about Nadia, about how she and Remus had tried so desperately to save her, only to watch her die. She removed her hands from the piano, placing them on her knees and gripping them tight. She remembered how much pain she had been in as she held Nadia in her arms, begging her not to go, begging whatever gods there were not to take her away. She couldn't imagine having to go through that all over again.
"Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata." Said Regina, who had been watching Shae play from the doorway. "One of my favorite pieces."
Shae turned around on the piano bench. "Mine too." She replied, giving her a small smile. "Sorry if I woke you."
Regina shook her head, stepping in to the dining room. "You didn't. Please, keep playing."
Shae nodded, turning back around and continuing to play. Regina sat down next to her on the piano bench, watching in wonder as Shae's fingers moved deftly across the keys.
"You certainly have a talent for music." Regina commented with a smile.
Shae smiled back, shrugging slightly. "Yeah, I guess I've always had a knack for it. I guess it helps that I have plenty of spare time during the night to practice."
"Yes, I imagine it does."
They sat in silence for a while as Shae continued to play, with Regina watching silently. Shae stopped as she finished the song, then she turned slightly in her seat, her eyes suddenly very sad.
"I was just thinking about Nadia, about how it felt when she died, how much it hurt." She said quietly. "I… I know it doesn't help, but, I really am sorry about… About what happened. I can't imagine having to go through that all over again."
Regina nodded, clenching her jaw as she fought back more tears. "Thank you." She replied. "And thank you for what you did earlier. If you hadn't been there… I… I don't…"
She stopped, turning her face away as more tears leaked out of her eyes. Shae stared down at her hands folded in her lap as Regina wiped her tears away.
"Why did you do it?" Regina suddenly asked her.
"Do what?" Asked Shae, looking confused.
"Comfort me like you did." Answered Regina. "You hate me."
Shae laughed lightly, running a hand through her messy black hair, causing it to stick out at odd angles even more so than it already had been.
"Well, I may not have a heart, but I'm not heartless." She replied with a slight grin. "Besides, I don't hate you, Regina. Not really."
Regina's brow furrowed in part confusion, part shock. "What?" She breathed.
Shae sighed, staring back down at her hands. "I thought I did." She replied quietly. "For twenty eight years I thought I loathed you. But… Being here, being around you again, it made me realize that I… Understand why you did the things that you did."
"Really?" Regina asked.
Shae nodded, smiling slightly. "I may not agree with a lot of them, but I get it. I probably would have done the same stuff if it were me. And I do admit that… Running off and betraying you all those years ago… Well, there was probably a better way to handle things."
Regina nodded slowly. "Perhaps… But I shouldn't have tried to take your heart in the first place." She admitted. "It was… I was… So blinded by rage, by revenge."
"Yeah, I guess I was too." Shae replied sadly. "We sure were some pretty spiteful bitches back then, weren't we?"
Regina laughed. "Yes, I suppose we were."
Shae let out a chuckle as well, shaking her head slowly. "Well, hey, look at us now!" She said with a grin. "Reconciling, admitting stuff. I guess we've matured."
"Yes, two already fully grown women have finally matured after almost thirty years." Regina replied with another laugh.
"There's a common saying in this world; 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks.'" Said Shae. "Well, I think that's bullshit, cuz these two old dogs just learned some stuff."
Regina laughed again. "Yes, I suppose we did."
"Plus dogs are, like, super smart." Shae went on. "I don't know why people think they can't teach an old dog stuff. Pretty dumb saying, if you ask me."
Regina laughed louder this time, and Shae laughed with her. Shae had always had the ability to make her laugh when no one and nothing else could, and Regina was immensely thankful at the moment for that ability.
"Thank you, Shae." Regina said, placing her hand gently at the vampire's cheek.
Regina had expected Shae to recoil at her touch, or slap her hand away. But she didn't, she only smiled warmly at her.
"Just… Thank you." Regina whispered.
Shae gave her a small nod, and Regina smiled, gently caressing Shae's cold cheek with her thumb. Regina left her hand where it was, staring into the vampire's blood red eyes.
A sudden tension built up between them, a tension neither of them had felt in a very long time. Regina's heart began to pound like a drum in her chest, butterflies suddenly forming in her stomach. She hoped Shae felt it too as she leaned forward, closing her eyes and pressing her lips gently against her's.
For a moment, it seemed that Shae didn't feel it, as she sat rigidly still in her seat. But, after a long, silent moment, Shae snaked one arm up Regina's back, placing the other on the side of her thigh, pulling her in closer. Regina drew in a sharp breath as their lips parted, and wrapped her arms around Shae's neck.
Regina's heart raced as they kissed with passionate ferocity, the butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach. She breathed in Shae's scent, sage and mint, still unchanged even after twenty eight years. A silent tear ran her cheek, but this time it wasn't a tear of sadness, it was a tear of joy. Regina couldn't remember the last time she had felt this way, the last time she had felt so happy. She then suddenly did remember. It felt like this the first time Shae had ever kissed her. She remembered her pounding heart, the swell of emotion, the way the entire world seemed to fade away.
Regina pulled back, gently cupping Shae's face in her hands, staring deep into her eyes. "Shae…" She whispered. "Shae, I… I-"
Regina gasped as Shae shoved her roughly away. She tumbled off the bench, catching herself with her hands before her face hit the floor. Shae leapt out of her seat and stumbled back against the wall. Regina's heart sank deep into her chest. She was furious.
"DAMMIT, REGINA!" Shae roared, hastily wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Shae! I'm sorry, I'm-" Regina tried to plead with her, getting to her feet and stepping toward her.
Shae stepped back, shaking her head vigorously. "Stop it! I told you, never again!"
"I know, I'm sorry, I-" Regina began again, but stopped as Shae turned around and stomped toward the door, grabbing her leather jacket from off its hook.
"Shae! Shae, where are you going?" Regina asked as she followed behind her.
"None of your damn business!" Shae snarled.
"Shae, wait! Please!"
The door slammed shut with a bang as Shae left the house. Regina squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face. She placed her back against the door, sliding down it and onto the floor, hugging her knees to her chest as she sobbed.
Regina rested her head on her knees, her body shaking with sobs. She had just lost Daniel for the second time in her life, and now, just as they had finally reconciled with each other, she had lost Shae. She realized when her and Shae had kissed just moments ago that she still loved her. Even after Shae had betrayed her, and after all the years they spent apart, hating each other, she was still in love with her. She hadn't just lost one person she loved that day, she had lost two.
XX
Shae stomped furiously down the sidewalk, her head spinning. Why did this keep happening? After all this time, why was she still drawn to Regina? She had no answer, and it made her furious. She stopped in mid step, pulling out her cell phone and dialing Ruby's number. She needed to see Ruby, needed to get Regina out of her system.
"Dammit, come on!" Shae muttered when she got Ruby's voicemail.
She dialed Ruby's number three more times, only to keep hearing her voicemail message. She let out a frustrated huff, stomping down the sidewalk once again.
A little while later, she arrived at the bed and breakfast Granny owned, and where her and Ruby lived. She stood underneath what she knew was Ruby's bedroom window, picked up a pine cone from the ground, and tossed it at the window. After it struck, she waited for a few seconds. When Ruby didn't appear, she found another, chucking it at the window again. Just as she threw a third one, the window opened.
"OW!"
"Oh, shit! Sorry!" Shae said in a loud whisper.
Ruby poked her head out of her window, rubbing her forehead. "Shae? What are you doing?" She asked, also whispering loudly.
"I, uh, I wanted to see you." Shae replied, anxiously chewing on her lip ring. "I've been trying to call you."
"Yeah, I know."
"Oh, uh, then why didn't you answer?"
Ruby sighed heavily. "I uh, I don't… I just don't really want to talk to you right now."
Shae's mouth hung open in silent confusion for a second. "Um… Why?"
Ruby sighed again. "Just… Wait there, I'm coming down."
Shae waited in the dark anxiously, drumming her fingers against her leg. Ruby eventually rounded the corner around the building, and Shae immediately grabbed her by her hips, drawing her in close and kissing her fiercely.
Ruby smiled as she kissed her back, wrapping her arms around the vampire's neck, running her hands through her soft, messy hair. She remained in Shae's embrace for a long while, enjoying the taste of her lips, possibly for the last time before she had to say what she needed to say.
Ruby pulled away reluctantly, folding her arms across her chest and staring down at the ground. Shae could sense something was wrong, and her brow furrowed.
"Is there something wrong, Ruby?" She asked, looking concerned.
Ruby bit her lip, glancing up at Shae and nodding slowly. "What? Is it Granny? Did she find out or something?" Shae asked again.
"No, it's not Granny." Ruby replied with another sigh. "Its… Its Regina."
Shae's eyes widened in shock, then her fists clenched, her lips curling into a snarl. "What did she do to you?" She asked in a darkly quiet voice.
"She didn't do anything, Shae." Ruby replied quickly. "It's just… When I saw you with her at the stables earlier it… It made me… Angry."
Shae's brow furrowed again. "Angry? Why?"
"I don't know… I guess seeing another woman in your arms made me… I-I was, you know… Jealous."
Shae's mouth hung open in shock, and she blinked silently at her. "Jealous?" She asked. "Ruby… Me and you, we're just, you know, messing around. We're not… Together. I thought you knew that."
"Yeah, I do, or at least… I did." Ruby replied uncertainly.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that maybe…" Ruby began, staring down at her feet again. "Maybe I want us to… To be together."
"Oh, Ruby…" Shae breathed, turning away from her and running her hands through her hair.
"Look, I know, ok? I know." Ruby said desperately, grabbing Shae's arm. "I know you don't have a heart, I knew that from the beginning, alright? I just… I went and caught feelings, I guess."
"I'm sorry, but you caught feelings for the wrong person." Shae replied, turning back to her with immensely sad eyes. "You don't want to be with me, trust me."
"But I do, though." Ruby said, taking Shae's face in her hands. "I know everyone else thinks you're evil, but I know you, the real you. You're a good person, Shae."
Shae continued to stare down at her sadly. Ruby bit her lip, fighting back the tears welling in her eyes. "You're the only person who really understands me." She whispered, stepping up closer. "Hell, you're the one I've been wanting to talk to about all this. I like fucking you and everything, but, I just… Really like being around you, talking to you. When we're not together, I'm still always thinking about you."
Tears started to leak out of Ruby's eyes now, which caused Shae's eyes to grow even sadder. "Shae, I… I want to be with you."
Ruby placed a hand on the back of Shae's neck, pulled her in close and kissed her again. Shae hesitated for a moment, but then she grabbed Ruby by the arms and pushed her back, shaking her head slowly.
"I can't, Ruby." She said miserably. "This is why I didn't want to do this in the first place, why I just shouldn't have. I didn't want to hurt you. I don't have a heart. I do care about you, but I just can't feel the same way that you feel about me."
"But maybe you can eventually." Ruby said, smiling hopefully. "You said that you know Regina will give you your heart back someday."
"Yeah, someday. But god only knows when that's gonna be." Shae replied desperately. "I'm sorry, but this has to stop. I don't want to risk hurting you anymore."
"I'll take that risk." Ruby insisted, stepping forward again and placing her hands on Shae's chest.
"But I won't." Shae replied, gently removing Ruby's hands. "I'm sorry, Ruby. I just can't."
Shae then turned around, and walked quickly away from her. She kept walking, her feet carrying her into the woods as her mind spun wildly, Ruby's tear stained face swimming before her eyes.
Shae was angry. Angry at herself for sleeping with Ruby in the first place, angry at Ruby for developing feelings for her, angry at Regina for holding her heart hostage, preventing her from sharing the feelings of the one person who actually cared for her. And she was angry at herself even more still for kissing Regina, someone who she was sure didn't give a rat's ass if she lived or died.
She stopped suddenly when she realized that her legs had unknowingly carried her to the clearing where she and Ruby would meet in secret every night. She breathed out a heavy sigh, sinking down onto a nearby log. She dropped her face into her hands, squeezing her eyes shut.
"What have I done?"
XX
The next few days were uncomfortable for Shae. Her and Regina had decided to not talk about their second tense and passionate moment, but Shae was still furious about it, furious at Regina, but mostly herself. She hadn't seen Ruby since the night the young wolf confessed her feelings for her, feelings that Shae had to reject. She knew she had broken Ruby's heart, which made her even more miserable. She couldn't stop thinking about it, about Ruby, about her eyes, her lips, her smile. Shae missed her something fierce. All she wanted to do was see her, hold her, kiss her, but she knew she shouldn't, she couldn't, and it was driving the vampire insane.
Shae was sitting at the kitchen table in Emma and Mary Margaret's apartment, watching anxiously as Mr. Gold prepared a potion that he insisted would help Henry. The boy had been having nightmares, nightmares about a room that was on fire.
David had asked Regina and Shae to look after Henry while he responded to an emergency call at the Sheriff's station. Henry had been asleep when they arrived, and when he woke, Regina and Shae were both shocked to find a burn on Henry's arm. With little other choice, they called on Rumplestiltskin, hoping he could provide answers as to why Henry's nightmares were causing him physical harm.
"When people fall under a sleeping curse, the soul travels to The Netherworld, where it resides until awoken." Gold was explaining as he poured various vials of liquid onto a silver pendant. "Now, this world is between life and death, and it's very real. However, even when the curse is broken, sometimes, in sleep, the victims find their way back to that world. Victims like Henry here."
Henry was sitting on Mary Margaret's bed, his mother next to him. He glanced over at Shae, who simply gave him a small shrug. She didn't exactly trust Rumplestiltskin, but she knew nothing about sleeping curses, or this Netherworld, so she had no choice but to trust him.
"This other world is tormenting my son every time he sleeps." Regina said, eyeing Gold just as suspiciously as Shae was. "I need you to give him something that will keep him from going there."
"Well, I'm afraid that's not possible." Gold replied, still tinkering with the necklace. "I can, however, provide you with something that will allow him to control his actions while in that world. And once one controls something, one no longer need fear it."
Gold finally finished with his potions. He turned around, holding out the necklace to Henry. Shae hastily got to her feet. "Woah, woah, woah. Everything comes at a price with you, Gold." She growled. "What do you want for it?"
Gold chuckled. "For a house call? Oh, I'm afraid neither of you could afford it." He replied with a smirk, glancing from Shae to Regina. "But, this is for Henry. This one's on me."
Henry took the necklace from him, and Shae exchanged a worried glance with Regina. Neither of them had a chance to respond, though, for the door to the apartment suddenly burst open. David rushed in, with Granny close behind him, both looking worried.
"Good, you're still here." David said breathlessly, looking at Shae. "We need your help."
"With what?" Shae asked, brow furrowing with confusion as she eyed David and Granny nervously.
"It's Ruby, she turned last night." David replied gravely. "Granny locked her in the freezer at the diner but she broke out, lost control. We found Billy dead, but we're still not sure if it was Ruby or not. We could just use some extra muscle."
"What? No, Ruby was in full control of the wolf, it couldn't have been her." Shae said, looking even more confused.
"Back home, she was. But it's been years, she can't control it anymore." Granny said.
"No, I mean here, now." Shae said. She then sighed, chewing on her lip ring nervously. "Ruby came to me a few weeks ago, asked for my help controlling the wolf. We've been going out into the woods at night, to hunt. And she's been in complete control for weeks now."
"What?" Asked David.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Granny asked, narrowing her eyes at Shae.
"Well, you and I aren't exactly BFF's." Shae replied with a shrug. "She probably didn't think you'd approve."
"Why would she come to you for help anyway?" Asked David, looking just about as angry and suspicious as Granny was.
"Because I can be super helpful if you ask nicely." Shae quipped back. "Besides, I've met werewolves before, back in my home world. They were all able to change at will, and I helped Ruby do it too."
"That's not possible." Granny breathed, eyes wide with shock.
"It is possible, and she did it." Shae replied. "But, I'm guessing the full moon was too much for her, caused her to lose focus. Is she alright?"
"She's fine, just a little shaken up." Answered David. "She can't remember anything from last night. I have her locked up at the Sheriff's Station. I thought it would be best to have you keep an eye on her tonight in case she breaks free again."
"Right, good idea. Let's go." Shae said with a nod.
She stepped past Granny, grabbing her jacket off the hook by the door. She made for the door, but stopped when Granny grabbed her arm. Shae eyed Granny curiously as the old woman yanked her closer, drawing in a deep breath through her nostrils.
"It's you." Granny snarled, looking furious. "You're the one that's been sleeping with my Ruby!"
A stunned silence fell over everyone gathered in the tiny apartment. Shae glanced over at Regina, who was silently smirking at her.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Shae replied, trying her best to seem surprised.
"Don't play dumb with me!" Granny growled, jabbing a finger into Shae's shoulder. "She's been coming home every night smelling strange, and I could never figure out what it was, till now. It's you! She had your scent all over her."
"Alright, fine!" Shae spat furiously. "It was me, ok? Happy?"
"What?" David exclaimed.
"My, my, how scandalous." Gold said, sporting a smirk quite similar to Regina's.
"Shut up, Gold!" Shae snarled, turning on the old man. "What the hell are you still doing here anyway?"
"Well, I too enjoy a tawdry scandal just as much as the next person." Gold replied, still smirking.
"What did you do to my granddaughter? You used that power of yours to trick her into it, didn't you?" Granny snarled, growing more furious by the second. She then shot Regina an icy glare. "You should keep a tighter leash on your pet, you know!"
"Oh, believe me, if I could, I would." Regina replied with a grin.
"Shut up, Regina!" Shae shouted furiously, then turned back to Granny. "I didn't use any kind of powers on her, alright? She was with me because she wanted to be. She's a grown ass woman. But it's over now, ok? I put an end to it a few nights ago."
"Why?" Granny asked, narrowing her eyes again at the vampire.
"Because I… I didn't want to hurt her." Shae replied with sadness in her eyes. "She's a nice girl. She deserves better than me."
Granny barked out a laugh. "Well, we can agree on that, at least." She said scathingly.
"Fine, great, we agree on something for once!" Shae spat bitterly. "Now can we please go? The sun will be setting soon."
"I'm starting to think that bringing you with us isn't the best idea." David replied, staring daggers at Shae.
"Well, I'm coming anyway." Shae said defiantly, stepping up to David and glaring furiously at him. "Look, I may not have a heart, but I do care about Ruby. She needs my help, and I'll be damned if I don't do whatever I can to help her."
David held Shae's furious gaze for a moment, but then relented. "Fine, lets go."
Shae nodded. She then pulled on her jacket and stomped out the door, David and Granny hot on her heels.
XX
When they arrived at the Sheriff's Station, they found Ruby sitting in a cell, just like David had said. When she spotted Shae, she looked much less than pleased.
"What is she doing here?" Ruby asked, narrowing her eyes at Shae.
"She's here to help." David replied. "She's gonna keep an eye on you tonight, in case you lose control again."
"And you'd better keep your filthy hands off my granddaughter." Granny snarled at Shae through gritted teeth, jabbing her in the chest again.
"She knows." Shae told Ruby.
Ruby raised her eyebrows in shock, her mouth gaping open momentarily. "Oh." Was all she managed to say.
"It's gonna be fine, Granny, don't worry." David said, grabbing Granny gently by the shoulders and herding her toward the door.
Shae watched as David led Granny out of the Sheriff's Station. Once they were gone, she turned to Ruby, stepping up to the bars of her cell.
"Ruby, listen, I-I just wanna say-" She began.
"It's alright, Shae, I'm sorry I was so cold." Ruby cut her off, sighing heavily. "I'm just mad. Not at you, not really. You were only doing what was best to protect my feelings. I'm just… Upset, for now."
Shae nodded, smiling sadly. "Yeah, I get it."
"Alright, Granny's gone home to get some rest." David said as he rejoined them. "You'll be safe here tonight, Ruby, I promise."
"Thank you, David." Ruby said with a grateful smile.
"Thank me in the morning." David replied. "By then, I'll have figured out who really killed Billy."
"You already have."
David and Shae both spun around, and found an older man with balding gray hair, dressed in a suit and tie standing in the doorway to the Sheriff's Station. He was glaring menacingly at Ruby.
"That thing, that she-wolf." He went on, pointing an accusing finger at Ruby. "She killed the boy."
"Who's this turkey?" Shae asked David.
"Albert Spencer." David replied, glaring back at Spencer. "But you probably know him as King George."
"Oh, well, pardon me if I don't curtsey." Shae quipped at the old man.
"I remember you." Spencer said, glowering at Shae. "You're that vampire that used to work for Regina, right? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to find you here. You vile creatures always seem to stick together."
"Get out." David snarled at the old man, pointing at the door. "Whatever issues you have with me, don't involve her. There's no proof Ruby had anything to do with what happened."
"It seems to me, that you're allowing your emotions to cloud your judgment." Spencer snarled back, stepping toward David.
Shae stepped between them. "Hey, back off, pal." She growled.
Spencer ignored Shae, sneering at David over the vampire's shoulder. "Protecting your friend at the peril of everyone else? I knew you'd slip up, shepherd. It was only a matter of time."
"What do you want?" Demanded David.
"Justice." Spencer replied, shooting another menacing glare over at Ruby. "Hand that thing over to me, and let the town decide her fate."
"Not a chance." Shae snarled. "You're not going anywhere near her."
"This town is bigger than you think, shepherd." Spencer said, grinning deviously at David. "I start telling people that you're putting their lives in danger to protect your own interests, that you're working with The Evil Queen's pet to do it? You'll have a mutiny on your hands."
"We'll see about that." Spat David, stepping up next to Shae and placing a hand on the vampire's shoulder. "You want Ruby? You'll have to go through us first."
"Damn straight." Shae agreed with a nod.
Spencer eyed them both silently for a moment, his evil grin spreading. "Oh, I look forward to it."
The old man turned on his heel, and promptly left. Once the door swung shut behind him, David breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks." He said to Shae.
"No problem." Shae replied with a nod. "Man, your dad's a real piece of work."
"That man is not my father." David growled.
"He's not? But I thought-" Shae began, looking confused.
"Long story." David cut in, hurrying over to Ruby's cell and pulling out his keys.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Asked Ruby.
"We can't stay here, not when Spencer knows where you are." David replied, unlocking the cell and swinging the door open. "Come on, we'll go the library. I doubt he'll think to look for you there."
XX
On their way to the library, they stopped to pick up Granny again, thinking the extra man power, and Granny's exceptional aim with her crossbow, wouldn't hurt. They left Ruby in the care of Belle, and David, Granny, and Shae set off to find the real culprit of Billy's murder. Granny was using Billy's jacket to track his sent, leading them down through the main street of Storybrooke.
"You're positive I shouldn't go back to the library? What if the mob finds Ruby?" Shae asked anxiously.
"She'll be fine, Belle locked the place up tight." David insisted. "Besides, we need you in case the mob finds US. Everyone in town is terrified of you. If they see you with us, they'll probably back off."
Shae opened her mouth to protest, but then shut it again, shrugging. "Yeah, alright, you got me on that one."
"Here, in the trunk." Granny said, suddenly stopping and pointing at a black car parked along the street.
David managed to pop the trunk open, and they made a shocking discovery inside. They found Ruby's hood, and a hatchet. Granny picked up the hatchet, sniffing it carefully.
"You smell that?" Granny asked, holding it out to Shae.
Shae sniffed it as well, then nodded gravely. "Blood, Billy's blood."
"So, it looks like whoever killed Billy was going to use Ruby's hood to pin the murder on her." Mused David.
"Who would want to hurt my Ruby?" Granny asked, looking troubled.
David went around to the drivers side window, smashing it open with the butt of his gun. Granny suddenly gasped, turning to Shae.
"This is your fault!" She snarled. "Your Queen did this!"
"Regina? No, she didn't do this." Shae replied defensively.
"How do you know, hm?" Granny demanded. "She was probably jealous of you and Ruby."
"What? Don't be ridiculous." Shae said, rolling her eyes at the old woman.
"Yeah, she got angry when she found out you were cheating on her with my Ruby." Insisted Granny. "She turned the whole town against her, so they would kill her and she wouldn't have to get her hands dirty."
"Cheating?" Shae asked indignantly. "Regina and I aren't even… Together. I'm just protecting her so I can get my heart back, that's all."
"Oh, right, so we're all supposed to believe that you two are staying in the same house, but aren't fooling around again."
"We're not!"
"Guys!" David shouted over them, holding up the car's registration papers. "It wasn't Regina, it was Spencer."
"King George?" Granny asked. "Why would he do this to Ruby?"
"He needed a reason to wrestle power away from me." David replied darkly. "So, he created one."
Granny opened her mouth with another question, but then stopped as they all heard a wolf howling in the distance. The three of them exchanged a fearful glance.
"Ruby!" Shae exclaimed, sprinting back toward the library.
"She's out! Come on!" Granny shouted at David, and they both took off after Shae.
They spotted the mob gathered in front of an alley just around the corner from the library, Spencer at the head. They stopped when they heard another howl.
"There you are." Spencer snarled, drawing a gun and pointing it down the alley.
"NO!" Shae screamed.
Shae was a black blur of movement as she rushed at Spencer. The members of the mob all cried out in alarm as she tackled him to the ground, wrestling the gun away from him. Shae got to her feet, tossing the gun to David, who deftly caught it, storing it carefully away in his belt.
"I told you… Stay. Away. From. RUBY." Shae snarled, kicking Spencer in the stomach with each of her words.
"Shae!" David shouted, grabbing Shae's arm and pulling her away from Spencer. "Shae, that's enough!"
"Should just let her keep going." Spat Granny. "This bastard needs to pay for trying to hurt my Ruby."
Shae, Granny, and David all whirled around when they heard a low growl from behind them. Ruby, now in her wolf form, was hiding behind a dumpster, the hair on her haunches standing straight up. She was snarling at them, her black eyes wild with fear.
"Woah! No, stop!" Shae shouted at the mob as they began to angrily advance on the wolf. "Ruby didn't kill Billy, this asshole did. All so he could get all the power in this town away from Charming."
Shae pointed down at Spencer, who was still lying on the ground, groaning in pain. "Why should we believe you?" Asked a man from amongst the mob. "You're just another monster like her!"
"Yeah, a monster working for The Evil Queen!" Shouted another.
"You know what? Yeah, that's right, that's what I am." Shae snarled at them, laughing sourly. "I'm The Evil Queen's vampire protector. And Ruby? She's a werewolf, that's what she is. But she's the one that taught me that it doesn't matter what you are, it's who you are."
Shae glanced back at the wolf, who was still crouched behind the dumpster, gnashing her teeth at them. "Ruby taught me that even though I'm a monster, that doesn't define me." Shae went on, turning back to the mob. "I can still be a good person, I can still help people if I want to."
Shae turned to Granny, taking Ruby's red hood from her hands. "Now, please, let me help Ruby." She pleaded with the mob. "Someone has already died because of what asshole King George did, let's not spill any more blood. She's just scared, she won't hurt anyone."
Shae exchanged a quick glance with Granny and David, who both nodded at her. She then stepped into the alley, walking slowly and carefully toward Ruby.
"Ruby? I know you can hear me, it's alright." Shae said gently.
Ruby lunged out of her hiding spot, snapping her jaws at Shae, causing the crowd to gasp, and Shae to leap backwards.
"Listen, Ruby, this isn't you!" Shae pleaded with her. "You said that you know the real me, remember? Well, I know the real you."
David, Granny, and the mob all watched with bated breath as Shae krept forward again, stopping when Ruby let out another low, fearsome growl. She crouched down on one knee, placing the red hood on the ground and putting her hands out carefully.
"It's alright, Ruby. I know you don't want to hurt anyone." Shae went on in the same gentle tone. "And you know what? Neither do I. But… But I have. I've hurt you."
Ruby drew back a step, growling again as Shae slid forward, now on both knees just in front of the wolf. "Ruby, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Shae whispered to her. "I never wanted to hurt you. You're the only person who knows the real me. Ever since I came back here, I've only been seen as a villain and a… A monster. But you? You only see… Me, just me. I was starting to forget what that felt like, and you helped me remember."
Shae glanced away from the wolf, clenching her fists on her knees. "For twenty eight years, I've felt nothing. But… When I'm with you… It's the closest I've ever gotten to feeling happy in such a long time."
Shae slid forward again slightly, and this time, Ruby didn't back away. She let out a low whine, sitting back on her haunches, her black eyes focused intently on the vampire.
"Ruby… I-I know without my heart I can't give one hundred percent to you." Shae went on, her voice barely above a whisper. "But… I… I'll give you everything that I've got, if you still want it."
When Ruby didn't move a muscle, David exchanged a worried glance with Granny. But then, Ruby whined again, pawing slowly forward. Shae breathed out a laugh as Ruby nudged her chin with her nose. The crowd drew a collective gasp as Shae stroked the wolf's head, grabbing the red hood with her free hand.
Shae tossed the hood over the wolf and, a second later, Ruby drew the hood back, smiling at Shae as she knelt in front of her.
"You saved me!" Ruby exclaimed, cupping Shae's face in her hands.
Shae laughed, shaking her head slowly. "No, you saved yourself. I just… Helped."
Ruby laughed too, and the mob gasped again as Ruby threw her arms around Shae, kissing her deeply. Granny exchanged another glance with David, who simply shrugged at her, a small smile on his face.
"Oh, Ruby… Ruby, I'm so sorry." Shae whispered, pressing her forehead against Ruby's.
"It's ok!" Ruby breathed, smiling as she gently stroked the vampire's cold, pale face. "Did you really mean it?"
When Shae nodded, Ruby's smile widened. "Good, cuz I do still want it. I still want you."
"I want you too." Shae whispered back.
Ruby laughed, and wrapped her arms tightly around Shae as they kissed again. Suddenly, there was a cry of alarm from among the mob, and they broke apart. Spencer had gotten to his feet, shoving David into Granny, knocking them both off their feet.
"Granny!" Ruby cried, leaping to her feet and rushing over to the old woman.
Shae got to her feet as well, hurrying over to David and helping him to his feet. They all jumped when they heard tires screeching, and watched as Spencer sped past them in his car.
"He's getting away!" Granny cried.
"I'm on it!" David shouted, rushing down the street toward his truck.
"Come on, we gotta catch him!" Shae said, and made to follow after David.
"Wait! I want to talk to you." Said Granny, grabbing Shae's arm.
"I really don't think now is the best time." Shae insisted, yanking her arm out of Granny's grip.
"It's fine, Charming knows what he's doing." Granny replied, then narrowed her eyes at the mob still gathered around them. "What are you all staring at? Get lost!"
There was some nervous and angry muttering as the crowd dispersed. Once they were gone, Granny turned to Shae, glaring up at the vampire.
"Granny, don't-" Ruby began.
"Quiet, Ruby." Granny spat at her granddaughter, then turned her gaze back on Shae. "Obviously I don't approve of… This. But, Ruby is a grown woman, and I can't stop her from living her life the way she wants to, or being with who she wants to."
The old woman then took her granddaughter's hand, patting it affectionately. "Besides, you helped us prove her innocent, and you saved her from being shot by that vulture of a man."
Shae gave Ruby a small smile, then continued to stare down at Granny uncertainly. "I guess that means there just might be some good in you after all." Granny went on, her gaze softening. "Ruby certainly seems to see it, so maybe… Maybe its time the rest of us try to."
"She really is a good person, Granny, I promise." Ruby said, smiling warmly at Shae.
Granny smiled too, nodding her head at her granddaughter. "You're welcome at the diner whenever you like." Granny said to Shae. "And if anyone raises a stink about it, they'll have to go through me."
"Thank you." Shae said with a surprised but grateful smile.
"Just remember one thing." Granny continued, stepping up close to Shae and poking her in the chest. "If you ever hurt my Ruby, I'll put a silver arrow straight through that heart of yours once its back in your chest."
Shae nodded seriously. "I'd expect nothing less."
Granny nodded back, seemingly satisfied. "Good. Well, I'm going home now to have a drink, or seven. It's been a long day."
Granny gave her granddaughter a hug, and gave Shae one final, curt nod. Shae and Ruby watched for a moment as Granny walked down the sidewalk away from them, her crossbow slung over her shoulder. Ruby then turned to Shae, smiling as she grabbed the front of her jacket, pulling her in for another kiss. Shae smiled back, sighing contentedly as she wrapped her arms around Ruby's waist.
Ruby suddenly pushed away, looking worried. "Uh oh." She breathed.
"What?" Shae asked, looking panicked.
"Um, we gotta go back to the library." Ruby told her, biting her lip.
"Why?"
"I may have left Belle chained up there."
Shae stared down at Ruby in silent shock, and Ruby laughed, grabbing her by the hand. The pair walked hand in hand back to the library, both feeling lighter and happier than they had in a long time. Shae placed her arm around Ruby's shoulder, kissing the top of her head gently. Ruby smiled up at her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Shae was now more determined than ever to get her heart back. She knew that, without it, she would never be able to love Ruby the way that she deserved to be loved. Unfortunately, she still had no idea how to find it. The only way she would ever get it back, was through Regina. Shae clenched her fist inside the pocket of her jacket. She knew Regina wouldn't give her heart up any time soon, not since it was once again the only thing she had for leverage against her. But she wasn't about to give up. She would get her heart back, one way or another.
XX
Regina had been in her back yard, tending to her apple tree when she heard a commotion from nearby. She went around the side of her tree and found a crowd of townsfolk marching down the street behind her house, Albert Spencer at the head of them. She started to panic. Had something happened to Shae? Had her angry villagers finally managed to capture her? She didn't waste any time speculating. She rushed out to her car, following the mob at a safe distance into town.
Regina grew more and more curious as she watched them storm the Sheriff's Station, only to find it locked up tight. She continued to follow them as they made their way toward the library, and was shocked to see a wolf running from it and into a nearby alley, a wolf she could only assume was Ruby.
The mob crowded around the alley, Spencer once again at the lead. Regina watched as he drew a gun, and gasped when he was thrown to the ground by a large, black blur. Her heart soared, and she breathed out a sigh of relief as she saw Shae leap to her feet, tossing Spencer's gun over to David. She silently thanked whatever gods there were. The woman she loved was safe and sound.
Unable to resist her curiosity, Regina continued to watch as Shae addressed the mob, seemingly quite angry. Her brow furrowed as she saw Shae take a red cloak from Granny, turning down the alley and crouching down in front of the wolf. Moments later, Shae tossed the cloak over the wolf, who morphed back into Ruby.
Regina gasped again, watching in horror as Ruby threw her arms around Shae, kissing her. Regina turned away, unable to watch any more. She clenched her fists around her steering wheel, tears welling up in her eyes. She knew that Shae hadn't gone to see Ruby in several days, not since the night her and Regina had kissed. Regina thought that had meant that Shae still felt something for her, and that she was conflicted. But it seemed that Shae had now made her choice.
Regina jumped at the sound of tires squealing, and watched as Spencer peeled past her. David rushed over to his truck, giving chase after the old man. Regina turned her attention back onto the mob, which was now dispersing. She grinned as she saw Granny furiously poking Shae in the chest. This was it, it was over. Granny despised Shae, and there was no way that she would let her granddaughter anywhere near her.
Granny seemed to have finished berating the vampire, and was walking away from her. Regina's brow furrowed in confusion again. Why wasn't she taking Ruby with her? She was given her answer almost immediately as she watched Ruby and Shae kiss again. She placed her hand over her mouth, choking back a sob as tears rolled down her face. She watched as the two lovers smiled happily at each other, then walked away hand in hand.
Regina's knuckles turned white as curled her fingers around her steering wheel once again. She glared at the back of Ruby's head, a white hot rage boiling in her chest.
"I will destroy her." She snarled through gritted teeth.
She began to formulate a plan in her head, trying to figure out some way to make the she-wolf's death look like an accident. Perhaps she could even somehow pin the murder on Spencer. He seemed to have a vendetta against her anyway, for some reason.
Regina stopped suddenly, placing her hands over her face as more tears leaked out of her eyes. No, she couldn't kill Ruby. If Shae somehow found out, she would never forgive Regina, and the woman she loved would be lost to her forever. Regina knew there was only one thing she could do. Without her heart, Shae could never truly love Ruby, so Regina was now more determined than ever to hold on to it, to keep it hidden. She was determined to keep the promise she had made to Shae the night she took her heart. Shae would never love again.
XX
