AGE 25: While back in town for Granny's birthday Regina and Ruby have a talk about coming out.
After leaving Storybrooke for New York, Regina had to admit that she didn't visit often. Truth was there wasn't much there for her. Belle had moved to the city when she came to college, Robin visited often and she had phone calls with Granny and her father almost four times a week. Also so little happened in the small town it was easy to feel like she wasn't missing anything. However, there were a few annual events she didn't dare be absent from. Granny's birthday was one such event.
Every year in early March she took the train down to Storybrooke to celebrate the older woman's birthday and this year was no exception. With Daniel and Belle in tow, she'd rode into town ready for an evening of cakes, gifts and reminiscing.
It was almost time for the party when she took the trash out. As she turned the corner of the house she was suddenly hit with the overpowering smell of smoke. A second later, she found Ruby, hanging around the side of the house, with a cigarette between her fingers.
Ruby's eyes went wide when she saw her. Immediately, she hid the cigarette behind her back and tried to act nonchalant. "Regina! What are you doing out here?"
"Taking out the trash," she drawled, tossing the garbage into a bin. Crossing her arms, she stepped closer to her. "And you're… blackening your lungs, I see."
Ruby scoffed, rolling her eyes as she pulled the cigarette out from behind her back. "It's the first one I've had in years. Don't judge me."
"Not judging," said Regina, leaning on the wall next to her. "Just glad you found a better place to hide than under the bleachers."
Ruby chuckled, leaning her head back. "Yeah, next to the trash bins. I've really moved up in the world."
Regina let out a small laugh, before sighing and hesitantly holding out her hand. "You feel like sharing?"
Ruby's eyebrows rose to her hairline in surprise, but she passed over the cigarette, the shock on her face only growing as she watched Regina take a smooth drag from it without so much as a cough.
"Wow… look at you goody-two shoes. I'm impressed," she laughed. "Didn't know you smoked."
Regina rolled eyes as she blew out a steady stream of smoke. "Yeah, that last year of law school was pretty stressful so it was either this or become an alcoholic."
Passing it back she tilted her head in shame. "Don't tell Daniel. He hates it when I smoke."
"Oh is that his one flaw?" said Ruby, lifting an eyebrow. "Finally, I've been looking for it."
Regina grinned. "Yes, he's overly concerned about my health. It's a burden but I love him despite it."
Ruby let out another chuckle before taking a drag of her cigarette. Regina watched as she blew out a puff of smoke, tilting her head in concern. "Ruby… why are you hiding out back?"
"I'm not hiding," said Ruby, shifting uncomfortably against the wall. "I'm just… taking a moment to myself before I go inside and have to see everyone at once."
She sucked her teeth, dropping her gaze to the ground. "You know the first time we've all gotten together since… since I…"
"Told everyone you're a lesbian?" Regina finished for her.
"Yeah," breathed Ruby, pressing her lips together.
Regina nodded her head sympathetically. From what Robin had told her, Ruby had only come out less than two weeks ago. She'd first told Robin, then Granny, both of them being very supportive from what she heard. A few of the waitresses at Granny's had been told and the rest of the town would hear it from the gossip mill. It was probably the only big development Regina had missed in seven years.
"I just feel like it's gonna be so awkward," Ruby stressed. "Like everyone's gonna be asking questions or patting me on the back. Do you know how many times I've heard 'you're so brave' in the last ten days? It's like a scratching record I can't turn off."
Regina groaned sympathetically. "Well, for the record… you are brave."
Ruby immediately groaned. "Ugh."
"I mean it!" drawled Regina, reaching for her cigarette. "Admitting who you are in this town is brave."
"Maybe," mumbled Ruby, looking down at her feet. "Just feels like if I was as brave as people are telling me I am then I probably would've done it sooner, you know?"
"I know," Regina softly replied with a nod. "Still… you're braver than I am."
She put the cigarette to her lips, averting her gaze when she saw Ruby curiously tilt her head. "Now what is that supposed to mean?"
Regina let out a puff of smoke, before turning to Ruby and taking a deep breath. "It means… you're not the only person in the yard attracted to the fairer sex."
She quickly passed over the cigarette, trying to ignore Ruby's shock faced and dropped jaw. Her green eyes lit up in realization. "Are you saying that you're…"
"Not gay," said Regina, shaking her head. "Bisexual."
The word still felt heavy coming off her tongue. She'd only said it aloud a handful of times before. The air outside suddenly grew thick as she waited for Ruby's reaction.
A hesitant smile tugged on Ruby's lips as she stared down at her. "Are you serious?"
"Yep," said Regina. She nods, still a little on edge at the turn of conversation. "But I've only been with one woman."
"Who?" Ruby stands a little straighter in anticipation.
"Elsa, my old roommate."
A surprised scoff falls from Ruby's lips. "Your old roommate? What was it, like, one surprising night of passion in the sorority house?"
"We were together for nine months."
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Ruby's voice comes out louder than intended and she pulls her hand to her lip, trying to cover up her outburst. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, just… did you tell anybody?"
"Robin knew," she mumbled, shrugging her shoulders. "And Belle found us kissing so I told her."
"That bitch," muttered Ruby. "I talk to her three times a week, she never let me know."
"Because I told her not to," replied Regina, rolling her eyes. "It was my business. And you know I don't talk about anybody I dated in college."
"Okay that's fair," said Ruby, in reluctant acceptance. "What about Daniel?"
Regina sighed, nodding her head. "He knows. Elsa came back to town a few months after we got married. We were meeting up for lunch and it felt weird that he didn't know, so I told him."
"How'd he take it?"
"Pretty well, I guess you could say." She shrugged her shoulders. "He said that he didn't care that I was bi, but he was disappointed that he hadn't made me 'feel safe enough' to tell him sooner."
"Aww," Ruby sarcastically drawled. "Daniel Colter, man without flaws."
Regina scoffed, still smiling. "No don't forget he's still got the one."
The two of them laughed together, sighing as their chuckles subsided. Ruby took another drag of her cigarette, and leaned against the wall, staring at her intently.
"So... Regina Mills the bisexual?" She said it as if trying out the title to see if it fit. "Should I be planning a coming out party for you soon?"
Regina nearly choked on the thought, biting her lip. "You know… I don't think 'coming out' is for me." She shook her head. "I don't know, maybe, I would feel different if I was with a woman but… it just doesn't feel important to me. If it comes up I won't deny it but… I don't think there's anyone I really need to tell. Everyone who matters already knows."
Ruby raised an eyebrow at her. "Including your parents?"
She chuckled when she saw Regina throw her head back with a groan. "Yeah that's what I thought."
Regina shrugged her shoulders. "Like I said… I'm not as brave as you."
Ruby shook her head, still smirking. "Don't worry, I'm not judging you. If I had your mother I'd be sticking in my closet 'til she died."
A snort escaped Regina as she nodded her head appreciatively. "Thanks but… evil doesn't die."
"And for the record," Ruby drawled, "you climbed out from under your mother's thumb to be with the man that you loved instead of the one she picked for you. That is brave as hell."
Regina smiled, still slightly unconvinced. God, that day seemed so long ago. Ruby might've thought she was being brave but all she can remember is feeling terrified as she let the three of them pull her out of that party. It was the best decision she'd made in her life but she hadn't made it alone.
"You know… it's been a while since you've come up to visit me and Belle," she said. "So if the pep talks and the small town ever get to be too much…"
Ruby let out a small laugh, a smile stretching out on her face. "Oh yes, a trip to the big apple sound really appealing, right now. Nightclubs and pretty ladies."
"Both in overabundance," promised Regina, wiggling her eyebrows.
Ruby giggled, before curiously tilting her head. "Feel free not to answer but I have to ask… am I anything close to your type."
"Oh no," chuckled Regina, shaking her head. "I have a thing for intimidating blondes."
Sucking her teeth, Ruby pouted. "Not gonna lie, that hurt a little." She sent Regina a mischievous glance. "Shame though. In another life we would've made a hot ass couple."
Regina smirked, playfully nodding her head. "Oh… hottest one in town, no competition."
As the two of them shared a look and a laugh, they didn't heard the back screen door open.
"ARE YOU TWO SMOKING OUT HERE?!"
In a flash Ruby dropped the cigarette to the ground in time for them both turn around and see Granny standing next to the corner, with her hands on her hips.
"No!" they both lied in unison.
"Uh huh." Granny eyed them suspiciously, before crossing her arms. "Well, get inside. I wanna eat my cake."
"Coming Granny," said Ruby, stealthily stepping on her cigarette as she followed her grandma inside, pulling Regina along with her.
Dinner turned out to be less awkward than expected. In fact, if she hadn't known any better she would've thought it was any other birthday dinner, just like the ones that came before and the ones that came after. But as she sat around a table with a few of the people who mattered most to her Regina couldn't help but feel that maybe she missed more in Storybrooke than she realized.
I know this wasn't OQ but I hope you liked it! Please review and let me know what you thought!
