One of the most striking contrasts to the harvest party was the tug that Ruby now felt throughout the day to search for Archie in the crowd, as if she just wanted to be assured of his presence. It was silly, this longing to be by her husband's side when they'd come to visit with their neighbours, but she didn't even want to fight it. She caught his eye as she emerged from behind the general store and made her way towards the makeshift bandstand across the street, and he flashed her a grin. She waved back before stopping in place, the grumble of her stomach reminding her of the feast available. The journey to the tables, however, was fraught with more obstacles than she realized as she was stopped by countless well-wishers, many of whom she barely recognized. Yes, it was lovely to see each other, and yes, she and Archie really had been married last year, and yes, wasn't the little one big already?

In truth, it added to Ruby's spirits, to be so welcomed to her hometown for good, but she also couldn't help but think she would be far more benevolent to the chatter with some food in her stomach.

Finally making her way through the buffet line—a task made far more difficult with an infant in one arm—Ruby emerged on the other side with a plate piled high with goodies. Her goal clear, she swiftly turned in the direction of the band, trying hard not to make eye contact with anyone unless absolutely necessary. Her heart beat a little faster as she closed the space between her and Archie, eager to retreat for a few moments. Besides, the poor man hadn't had anything to eat, himself.

A few steps from the shade of the canvas cover, Ruby heard a high-pitched call.

"Mrs. Hopper!"

Ruby turned around to see a plump older woman rushing towards her and she smiled her greeting as she recalled the name from their earlier meeting in the spring. "Mrs. Merriweather!"

"Oh, my dear, look at you and the little one. You certainly have your arms full!"

Ruby nodded. "Yes, I—"

"I can't tell you how happy I am to see you here. Now, pardon an old woman, but I had my doubts about whether or not you were going to stay. I didn't know if you had the gumption to stick it out, but then I met you and I thought to myself, 'now there's a lass worthy of Archibald Hopper'."

Ruby bit back a smile as she nodded along to the woman's speech, unable to get a word in herself.

"And now you're here with the baby, isn't he sweet. And where has August gotten to? My, my, that child has the energy of a whole hen house!"

"Yes, he does keep us bus—"

"Well, I can't imagine how you'll keep up with another fine little boy. They sure do know how to get into mischief, now, don't they?"

Ruby fought to keep her arm steady so as not to upset the plate of chicken and sandwiches and salads she held, and her arm began to grow sore as she gripped Peter close.

"I always did think what a fine thing it would be to have a pair of strapping young boys, and—"

"Mrs. Merriweather!"

Ruby turned around to see Jefferson jogging up towards them, and she breathed a sigh of relief before forcing her expression back to one of contemplation.

"Mrs. Merriweather, there you are—I've been looking all over for you."

The older woman chuckled and Ruby was almost certain she saw a blush creep over the woman's cheeks as Jefferson placed his hand on her back. "Now, now, Mr. Madden, I know for a fact you have far more to entertain you than an old spinster like me."

"Nonsense!" Jefferson continued, throwing a knowing glance to Ruby before he focused on Mrs. Merriweather. "You're just the woman I want to see. I've been dying for a taste of your peach pie, and I couldn't rest until I'd found you so you could cut me the first slice."

Mrs. Merriweather shook her head in an exaggerated motion and grinned so that Ruby was certain her smile really did reach from ear to ear. "He teases me like this every year," she told Ruby, and Ruby smiled along. "As if this silly boy doesn't know after twenty-some-odd years that it's not time for peaches in June!"

"Mrs. Merriweather, you flatter me—I'm a thirty-something-year-old father, now."

"Pish posh! I was considered an old spinster while you were in cloth diapers, so don't pretend you're not still a young'un…"

With one last glance over his shoulder, Jefferson gently guided the older woman in the direction of the desserts. "Then, of course, as far as I'm concerned I'm still a babe in the cradle," Ruby heard Jefferson say before she snatched her chance at freedom and hurried to join Archie a few paces away.

He looked up at her from his perch on a hay bale, his fiddle tucked under his chin as his fingers and bow drew out the melody from the strings to join the harmony of the other instruments. Ruby smiled as she watched him play, transported as the bow danced with such energy that it left her in awe.

She was almost sad for the song to come to an end, but the disappointment was quickly righted as Archie stood up and pressed a kiss to her lips. She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments, savouring the contact before they broke apart and her gaze met his.

"How are we doing, then?" he asked, turning his attention to Peter whose eyes were fixated on the strange stick in his father's hand.

Ruby nodded to the other men before they dispersed for their well-deserved break. "We're doing well," Ruby assured Archie as he returned his violin to its case and placed it on the hay bale. "We just thought we'd come and feed the fiddler before he wears out his fingers. Didn't we?"

Archie grinned and took Peter from Ruby. He shifted the baby to cradle him in his arm before he reached for a drumstick with his free hand. "Well, I appreciate it," he said before taking a bite of chicken. He chuckled as Peter watched the chicken leg make the journey from his pa's hand to his mouth. "I'm sorry, Son, but you can't enjoy this food quite yet," Archie said after he swallowed.

He turned to Ruby. "How's he been? Have you eaten? I noticed you were ambushed by Mrs. Merriweather over there—I'm sorry I couldn't do anything."

Ruby laughed and shook her head. "Jefferson was kind enough to sacrifice himself," she teased. "And Peter's fine—Belle suggested I feed him behind their place. I haven't eaten yet, which explains this mass of food. You didn't think this was all for you, did you?" She flashed a grin at her husband as she took a bite of her sandwich before leaning towards him and pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "We're more than fine," she assured him, her mouth too full to be deemed polite.

"Good." He took another bite and bounced Peter in his other arm, and the two of them stood in silence as they chewed. Ruby was almost certain that she had never had such a delicious sandwich in her life.

"Oh!" Ruby exclaimed, suddenly remembering a piece of news. Archie raised his brows as she swallowed. "Belle told me something exciting. She and Mr. Gold are expecting."

"Really?" Archie asked, his features brightening even more. "That's wonderful!"

"Umhmm," Ruby agreed with a nod as she took another bite.

Archie paused and held his drumstick out absentmindedly. "That explains why Mr. Gold was so helpful in recruiting Dr. Whale."

Ruby let out a mock gasp. "Archie!" Then, she grinned and leaned closer. "That's exactly what I thought, but of course I didn't say anything."

"You'll have to offer them my congratulations," he added sincerely.

"Speaking of Dr. Whale," Ruby continued in between bites. "Did you notice Jefferson's attentions to the subject?"

"No, nothing out of the ordinary." Archie furrowed his brow at his wife. "Why do you ask?"

Ruby shrugged, trying to decide if she was making much out of nothing. "I just thought it was strange that he was so interested in the details of the arrival. He did ask you to handle it all, so why would he be so worried about it?"

"I just thought he was making conversation—or, at most, curious about someone he went to school with."

"Did they know each other well?"

Archie shook his head. "Not that I'm aware, although Jefferson didn't provide many details." He turned from Ruby to focus on Peter for a moment, giving him a bounce before returning his attention to the boy's ma. "Did you notice something strange?"

Ruby shook her head. "No, I guess not—and you probably know him best." Still, she couldn't shrug off the curious interest that Mr. Madden held about the new doctor.

Movement behind them alerted Ruby and Archie to the return of the rest of the band members, signaling an end to the short break. Archie took one last bite of chicken that tore the flesh from the bone before he gave Peter back to Ruby.

"Ah, ah, ah," said Mr. Brown as he settled on his own hay bale with his banjo. "You're needed out on the dance floor with your wife."

Ruby and Archie both shook their heads, insisting that such allowances were completely unnecessary. As it turned out, they had very little say in the matter as Belle swept in to relieve Ruby of Peter—a duty in which she took too much pleasure, if Ruby did say so herself.

Ruby glanced up at Archie as she felt the heat creep into her cheeks that matched the flush in his own features. He glanced towards the makeshift "dance floor" in the middle of main street before offering her his hand. "Shall we?"

Ruby arched her brow, amused that he was taking it all in stride.

Much to her relief, others were pairing off and taking their places as well. She returned her attention to Archie and her pulse quickened to see his clear, blue eyes beaming at her with unwavering focus. "Let's," she breathed as her heart skipped a beat in her chest for a moment, and his laugh lines crinkled around his eyes as he broke into a grin. He placed one hand on the small of her back and took her hand in his, while Ruby's free hand settled on his shoulder.

The notes of the banjo strummed out and Ruby followed Archie's lead in a waltz. One, two, three—one, two three, Ruby thought to herself as she concentrated on her steps. The movement came easily enough and soon she let herself relax as Archie guided them around, expertly maneuvering around the other dancers.

"I didn't know you could dance," Ruby teased with a nervous giggle.

"I have a very odd combination of skills," he replied, a twinkle in his eye.

"That, Archie Hopper, is downright lie—you have more talents than any one man has a right to be blessed with."

Archie chuckled. "And that, Mrs. Hopper, is shameless flattery."

Ruby shook her head and bit her lip, unable to retort as the rasp of his voice shot through her. Warmth bloomed in her chest to have his arms around her, to have the world melt away for a few minutes where only the two of them existed, aided by the hypnotic sway of the dance. Their steps in sync, Ruby revelled in the points of contact—the warmth of her hand in his, his gentle touch on her back, his broad shoulder under her palm with his muscle flexing slightly as they moved. The restless energy that had buzzed in Ruby's veins dissolved like dew melting before the sun and she noticed the warm rays that pored over them both as they danced in the June heat. Ruby couldn't help but feel at ease in Archie's arms, and part of her wished that the dance would last forever.

Or, more accurately, she wished a little too fervently to retreat back to the homestead with her husband as a different sort of energy simmered under her skin.

She took a deep breath, inhaling the earthy scent of him that made her head swim. She tightened her grip slightly, causing Archie to frown.

"Is everything okay?"

Ruby smiled as she tried to regain her composure. "Yes—perfectly fine."

Archie relaxed into a smile. "Good," he murmured, his voice pitched deep and just audible enough that it sent shivers through her. She noticed the flicker of tension in Archie's jaw, the bob of his Adam's apple as he gave a hard swallow, and she couldn't help but wonder if his thoughts were on a similar vein. Thank goodness for that.

Well, no—perhaps this wasn't such a good idea.

For the last measures of the song, Ruby focused on the melody of the music and the steps of the dance, reminding herself to enjoy the celebration. Thankfully, the dance itself was energetic enough that it left little room for daydreams and soon the final notes hung in the air as they came to a stop.

Archie let his hand drop from Ruby's back and gave her hand a squeeze before he stepped to her side, and they both turned towards the musicians to offer their thanks in applause along with the other dancers. Ruby glanced around to see who else had been dancing, and she noticed Mary Margaret and David a few feet away, with David's arm around his wife's waist. Ruby smiled at her friends before beaming back at Archie, another wave of awe washing over her.

This is home.

Then, Ruby noticed Belle near the band holding Peter with Mr. Gold standing beside her. She gave Archie's hand a squeeze before she rushed over to her friend and took Peter, his little hands waving.

"I swear he was watching you two the whole time," Belle gushed. "His beautiful ma and pa."

Ruby chuckled. "Thank you for watching him."

She felt Archie's hand on her back and she looked up to him as he stood behind her. He dared to press a kiss to her temple before he returned to is place with the band, his violin waiting for him.

"Look, Peter, there's your Pa," Ruby cooed as she held Peter up and pressed her cheek to his.

Ruby realized it had been awhile since she'd seen August, and so she scanned the crowd in search of her eldest son. The ring toss that had been set up for the children had been long abandoned, and Ruby fought the unease that hovered over her when she still couldn't spot him or his friends. A quick question to Belle and Mr. Gold answered the mystery, however—they had retreated behind the Golds' place with ringleader Neal, or, more accurately, August had followed the older boy with Emma and Grace in tow. Ruby chuckled, certain that it was wiser to be ignorant of some of their fun. She also had no doubt that Emma and Grace were able to put August through his paces, should the need arise, while poor Neal would play the peacekeeper.

The festivities continued and Archie was able to join Ruby when the music took a break for the results of the pie contest—the honour, of course, going to Mrs. Merriweather's strawberry rhubarb pie. Truth be told, the partygoers cared little for the results so long as they were able to taste the entries afterwards. Ruby grinned to see the older woman give Archie a heaping slice, despite his insistence that he didn't need nearly so big a portion. Ruby, in turn, insisted she didn't need a piece, though that didn't stop her from stealing some of her husband's. Peter's eyes were hungry and Ruby chuckled. "Maybe next year, Sweetheart," she teased with a kiss to his head. She could only imagine how his little face would pucker when he had his first bite of sour rhubarb.

Ruby's favourite time was when Archie was able to sneak away from other duties and they could visit with their neighbours together. Her chest swelled with pride to have him beside her, holding their son and answering any number of mundane questions, or asking his own in return. His eyes were warm and his eager attention was proof of how much he cared for every inhabitant of Storybrooke. And, though he squirmed under the attention, Ruby delighted to see her husband as the celebrity of the day.

As they broke apart from their conversation with Leroy—whose replies were short and no-nonsense, though still amiable under his gruff façade—Ruby went through her mental list of names and faces to ensure she'd greeted everyone she should and to remember those she'd just met. She also realized a particular absence—that of Cora Mills and her daughter.

"Oh, apparently they're out east in New York for an extended time," Mary Margaret explained when Ruby was able to snatch some time with her friend while Archie was off chatting with Mr. Gold. "I have a suspicion that Cora's trying to take full advantage of the societal season for husband-hunting."

Ruby swallowed, knowing full well the ridiculous rituals to which the upper class subscribed to get their daughters married. "Poor Regina." Hopefully it would be a blessing in disguise if the man was a benevolent respite from her domineering mother…

There was little time for dreary thoughts, however, when the sun shone bright and laughter rang out over the main street. The children had a competition of their own, and Belle and Ruby and Mary Margaret laughed to see them shuffle through the three-legged race. Neal and August were at a distinct advantage with their longer legs tied together and larger strides, compared to Emma and Grace. August's competitive side revealed itself even more when he was left to his own devices in the potato sack race, his lips pursed as he made the final lunge over the finish line and slid across the dirt to beat Neal by a hair. Ruby cheered to see his grin spread from ear to ear as Mr. Gold handed him his ribbon.

Ruby also had to chuckle when Belle was eager to hold Peter for as much as Ruby would allow. "Please, take him!" she teased. "You can have him for as long as you want." For a little while, at least, she enjoyed the freedom of visiting without her arms full.

Somehow, unfortunately, Ruby found herself ambushed by Mrs. Merriweather again, and this time, Jefferson was nowhere in sight.

"It's been a good season for growing," the older woman chattered, and Ruby nodded along. "My strawberries are so juicy, and the rhubarb! It's almost overtaking my garden. Of course, I only have a little patch of dirt—nothing compared to your husband's fields, of course. Oh, it was such a shame about the fire last month—all those seeds, gone!"

"Well, we didn't lose mu—"

"Such a tragedy, but I know if anyone can get through it, you two will come out just fine. What doesn't break you makes you stronger, you know."

A hand settled on her back and Ruby started and turned to see her husband beside her, delight bubbling in her chest at his presence.

"Mrs. Merriweather, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I'm afraid I need to steal my wife for a moment."

"Oh, of course, Archie—I wouldn't dream of keeping her from you—"

Archie smiled and nodded his chin to her, barely offering a brief "Thank you" before he took Ruby's hand and led her away. Ruby could only flash the older woman an apologetic smile that she hoped wasn't too gleeful as she rushed to keep up with Archie's paces to the little alley in between the chop house and the tack shop.

"Archie, what on earth—" Ruby managed before he pushed her against the rough boards of the building and crashed his lips to hers. She let in a sharp breath before she relaxed into him, warmth swirling within her, alight at his touch. His one hand slid around her jaw and neck while the other braced his weight against the wall. He pressed himself against her, and Ruby's pulse quickened to be covered by him in the small space as she splayed her hands against the wall beside her skirts.

"Archie," she breathed when he pulled back, and she slowly opened her eyes to meet his gaze. His eyes flitted back and forth, and she saw them darken with desire as he searched her face. She bit her lip, savouring the taste of the kiss as she soaked in the attention. "I—what was that for?"

He leaned closer and tipped her chin up, his feather-light touch—such a contrast to what had preceded it—sending shivers through her. "I just… wanted to see my wife," he murmured, his voice low so that she felt herself melt, the heat within pooling at her core. His breath fluttered over her lips before he kissed her again, and Ruby closed her eyes and brought her hands to his waist as she slowly gave over to her instincts. She moaned as his tongue swept past her lips, his kisses growing more hungry, and she gripped what fabric she could of his shirt, her hands pressed between their bodies at the waist of his pants. The rest of the world disappeared, and Ruby was only aware of her physical body against his, her only thought to close any distance between them. She cursed the constrictions, able only to return his kisses and grip a strap of his suspenders to tug him closer, sparks shooting under her skin as his hand cupped her neck. He dug his hand into her hair and all but shoved her against the wall. Ruby grinned at his unusual aggressiveness, the evidence of his own arousal that only heightened her own.

Then, he pulled back, and Ruby struggled to adjust to the sudden break in contact as her eyes fluttered opened and her breaths came short.

"I—I'm sorry," Archie stuttered. His cheeks were flushed, though from desire or embarrassment, Ruby wasn't entirely sure. Maybe both.

As Archie straightened, Ruby brought her hand up to his cheek, now free in the few inches that separated them. "Don't be," she assured him, breaking into a grin. In truth, there was nothing more intoxicating than sneaking away, to have such yearning overcome decorum, and Ruby was thrilled to be wanted so completely.

She couldn't quite voice such thoughts, however, and so she giggled in a release of energy and tucked her head to his chest which heaved slightly as he panted to catch his breath. He pressed a kiss to her hair and pulled her to him away from the wall, wrapping his arms around her. They stood for a few moments as they gained their composure, both reluctant to join the hum of activity that they could now hear several yards away. Ruby forced herself to stand up and take a step back as her hands fluttered to her hair.

"Do I look presentable?" she asked, feeling her hair loose in her pins.

"I, uh—yes," Archie replied, though his hesitancy gave Ruby room for doubt.

She tucked a few strands in as best she could, praying that her appearance wouldn't give them away too much. She couldn't help but laugh at the flush in her husband's own features, though he could probably blame it on the day spent in the sun.

They did dare to join hands as they returned to the party, and Ruby couldn't help but feel like a girl at risk of being caught with her beau. She met Mary Margaret's eye as they made their way towards the tent with the musicians, and Ruby bit her lip at the raised brows of her friend which quickly turned into a smirk.

So they hadn't gone entirely unnoticed.