Chapter 7

When Ruby finished loading the items the two had bought during their sister's day, she noticed Emma was a bit anxious and wondered why exactly. Emma had been more relaxed after their conversation earlier. Ruby knew it was best not to badger her about it. She didn't want to ask, but knew immediately what would cheer her little sister up. Something Granny had always done when Ruby had been down for some reason or another.

"What do you say about some ice-cream?" Ruby grinned and Emma nodded. "Great. I know the best place. Come on" Ruby led them to a little ice-cream shop on the corner. It was pretty small, but full of people. There was a long line, but soon enough it was their turn. "Two house specials, please?" Ruby smiled and the girl behind the counter nodded.

Emma knew Ruby had caught onto her anxiety, and was trying to cheer her up. I'm really lucky to have her, huh? Emma loved the ice-cream and laughed at Ruby who had rando,chocolate sauce spots all over her face.

"You eat like a fucking child, you know that right?" Emma chuckled.

"Maybe... Belle always says that to." Ruby shrugged and dried her face on a napkin. "So, are you looking forward to tonight?" Emma blushed at the question. "God you really like her don't you?"

"Yeah." Emma grinned. "Do you think Regina could like...you know, someone like me?"

"If you mean aan awesome, good looking and a little bit crazy girl, why wouldn't she?"

"Nah I don't know. I just feel she's like from a different world than me. I mean I.." Ruby cut her off by waving her hand.

"Stop thinking like that Swan, you're a fantastic person. Maybe Regina is from a different world, but I see the way she looks at you."

"Really?"

"Really!" Ruby repeated with a big smile. "Now, let's go grab some lunch and we'll have a talk about her."

"Lunch?" Emma asked, almost laughing. "You're aware that we just had ice-cream right? Granny would kill us"

"What she doesn't know, won't kill her" Ruby shrugged with a smirk.

"Now, come on..." Emma rolled her eyes as they two entered the pizza place.

"So" Ruby grinned after they had ordered their pizzas. "Have you had a girlfriend before?"

"Nope." Emma just shrugged.

"Boyfriend?"

"Nope"

"So, I Guess you need some tips then? You know, sex tips?"

"What the hell Rubes!" Emma laughed and buried her face in her hands.

"What? It's nothing to be ashamed of," Ruby said. "but hey you got Google if you don't want to talk."

"Come on!" Emma groaned as she looked nervously around the busy restaurant.

"Swan, I'm your sister. My job is to embarrass you" Ruby teased and Emma just shook her head. "I'll tell you about my fourth date with Belle, and believe me. You're gonna laugh at this!"

Ruby was standing in her room trying to find the right outfit for the night. She had asked Belle on a date, and she wondered if her surprise would be appreciated, but at the same time she was terrified. A knock on her door made her snap back to reality.

"Oh hi Granny" Ruby smiled. "What's up?"

"Nothing my dear. Are you excited for your date?" Granny smirked. She had closed down the diner for Ruby, and helped her reorganize the old restaurant so that it looked like it was from a scene in some romantic film.

"Yeah…..I'm nervous as hell!" Ruby groaned and sat down. "What if she says no?" tonight was the night Ruby was planning to ask if Belle wanted to be her girlfriend.

"Why would she do that Ruby? She has only eyes for you." Granny said with a gentle smile. "Don't worry. Just be yourself and you're gonna do just fine"

Ruby decided to shock both Belle and Granny by wearing a dress. She had never been a 'girly girl' and was happy Granny had never forced her to be that type of person. Granny was quite understanding, considering her age. She hadn't even batted an eye when Ruby had told her about her liking girls. She had just smiled and given her a hug then added the words "I'm happy as long as you are"

Ruby took a deep breath and knocked on Belle's door. She was a few minutes early but hoped Belle wouldn't mind.

"Ruby!" Belle squealed when she opened the door and gave Ruby a quick kiss. "Look at you! You're wearing a dress!"

"Yeah, I thought since it's our fourth date... I wanted to dress up for you." Ruby shrugged and looked at what Belle was wearing. She also had a dress on, but it was slightly more sexy then the one Ruby had on. It was black and showing off the brunette's curves perfectly. "Now I feel like I'm wearing a trash bag compared to you though"

"Don't be silly" Belle winked. "You look a little more classy, and I'm a little more trashy. You know, reversed roles kinda" she teased and Ruby smiled wide. It's like Belle felt that ruby was nervous and knew exactly how to help her relax. With a small laugh.

"Hey!" Ruby laughed as Belle closed and locked the door behind them. They walked to the diner in a comfortable silence.

Belle almost couldn't breathe when she came into the diner. She didn't have a clue how Ruby had done all this, but it was really beautiful.

"Oh my god, Ruby! This place looks like a scene taken straight from Beauty and the Beast! Where the hell did you get a chandelier from?!"

"I got my contacts" Ruby grinned and stole a kiss from the brunette. The kiss was full of passion, love and promises of a future for the two teenage girls. When their lips parted both of them were smiling.

"You gotta be the best damn kisser" Belle said with a low, almost seductive voice then looked straight into Ruby's eyes. The redhead knew Belle was the girl for her.

"I never would have guess you were such a romantic!" Emma teased and received a glare from Ruby.

"I'm the mother fucking pro!" Ruby grinned and Emma rolled her eyes. "Shut up and take some notes instead of asking questions and making accusations, Lil sis!"

Ruby had even prepared dinner. It wasn't as fancy as it would have been if she had asked granny for help, but she knew Belle would enjoy what she had done. She walked out into the kitchen and prepared two plates of her lasagna, and before she went back in the dining area she turned on the stereo. She chose "Only you", a song that always reminded her of Belle.

"Well then Ruby, let's get this show on the road..." she said to herself then grabbed two glasses of wine and the two plates. She was used to carrying twice as much, but Ruby forgot she wasn't used to having a dress on. So she tangled herself and face planted on the floor. Meanwhile the two glasses shattered and the lasagna splashed everywhere, even in her hair.

"Oh my god Ruby!" Belle shouted and ran to the redhead who was laying in the floor. "Are you okay?"

"Absolutely fucking fine" Ruby growled and lifted her head then saw how Belle's face twitched with amusement. It didn't take long before the brunette broke down in laughter and Ruby joined in to.

"Sorry" Belle laughed and Ruby rolled her eyes before Belle helped her up.

"Well that didn't go as planned.." Ruby signed. "Granny's gonna kill me for breaking her good wine glasses."

"Let's clean this up and make another attempt, shall we?" Belle winked.

"That sounds like a plan. I think I should change too. I don't think I want to smell like a walking lasagna" Ruby grinned and Belle kissed her sweetly.

The other attempt went better. Ruby lit candles in the whole room while Belle filled their glasses with wine. Ruby pulled out the chair for Belle and sat down next to her.

"Well attempt number two then.." Ruby shrugged and smiled. " I hope you bare to listen to the song once more, since well, last time I kinda killed the mode with being a clumsy idiot." Belle leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss before she heard which song it was.

"Oh! I love this song!" Belle said and Ruby smiled when she put down the food and glasses.

"Glad you like it. I always think of you when I hear it." Ruby spoke in such an honestly charming way that surprised Belle a little

"Who are you and what have you done to my Ruby?" Belle teased but Ruby just heard the two last words. I'm hers. As she's mine.

"Just eat" Ruby smiled and Belle licked her lips.

"Oh wow this smells amazing!"

"It's my own recipe!" Ruby grinned. "Hope you'll like it." After they had eaten the food and were on their third glass of wine, both girls were snuggled close on the big sofa Ruby had carried down from one of the Inn rooms. Ruby felt a little more at home in her black jeans and tanktop, and couldn't keep her hands off Belle's intoxicating body.

"So.. Ehm. I got something I want to ask you Belle" Ruby stuttered nervously and broke the silence. Their eyes locked and Ruby cleared her throat, feeling how she started to sweat.

"Ask away" Belle replied and gave Ruby a kiss on the cheek.

"Ehm.. Do you wanna be…. you know, my girlfriend?"

"I would be honored to be your girl!" Belle beamed up and their lips came together.

"So you're saying you smashed plates and wine glasses, and painted the diner with lasagna, and still got the girl of your dreams?" Emma asked, feeling a little less nervous for the night to come.

"Yepp, so don't be nervous Swan! Just be yourself and I promise you it's gonna work out just fine with Regina" Ruby grinned and ate up her last slice of pizza.

"Yeah. Yeah I think you're right Rubes. This might work out. I just have to avoid carrying lasagna and wine" Emma teased and Ruby just huffed.

"Come on now, you idiot, let's go home"

Belle and Regina had spent the day sitting outside on the porch, drinking wine and discussing all kind of books. Belle loved it.

"I have really missed this" Belle said and met Regina's eyes. "And I have really missed you"

"I have missed you too Miss French, and I'm happy things feel like old times" Regina smiled.

"And somehow I got a feeling you're mostly happy over Emma?" Belle said with a wink.

"I guess Ruby had the talk with you about Emma too?"

"Yes Miss French, and I think it's really sweet how much she cares about miss Swan"

"Yeah, well Ruby loves Emma to pieces. I hope I will get to know her better since I haven't really spent much time with her."

"Oh? Why haven't you seen Miss Swan very much, dear?" Regina asked curiously, thinking it was kind of strange. "Does Emma not like you?"

"Nah, I just think Ruby is really protective of Emma, and wants to make sure the people Emma has in her life are good to her. You know?" Regina nodded and suddenly her phone buzzed. Belle immediately understood who had texted her, because Regina was smiling like an idiot.

E - We're on our way home now. Really looking forward to tonight. Have you had a good day? Xo xo

Re - Make sure Ruby drives safe. I want you home in one piece, dear. I have spent my day with Belle, discussing books and drinking wine. So I would say I have had a good day. But spending the night with you would make it even better. Have you and Ruby had a good day? Xo xo

"Was that Emma who texted you?" Belle smirked.

"Yes dear, how did you know that?" Regina asked, feeling herself blushing. What are these butterflies doing in my stomach?

"Well because you're smiling like I do when I receive a text from Ruby" Belle shrugged. "So I take it, you may have a little crush on Emma huh?" Regina bit her lip and felt her heart in her throat.

She had never had a girlfriend. Never even really kissed someone. The closest she had come to that, was some kiss she had shared with Ruby while being drunk. Regina had almost given up on finding someone. She had always been kind of afraid of it too, because she knew her mother would disown her and throw her out in a heartbeat. She was tired of that now. Why should she chose to be lonely and sad because her mother wouldn't approve?

Regina didn't want anything, but someone to call her own, someone to share her days with and sleep next to every night.

"It's complicated Miss Lucas" Regina sighed. "I feel torn" Belle bit her lip and knew exactly what Regina ment.

"You're afraid of what your mother would say huh?" Belle asked with a tone of sadness in her voice. She knew how much Regina wanted someone, and she deserved to have someone too.

"Yes." Regina nodded.

"Fuck her" Belle shrugged and Regina raised an eyebrow. "Regina I love you and Ruby too. We maybe were assholes when we stopped hanging out with you because of your mother, but I feel terrible for it. Now we're here and we got your back." Regina smiled and dried her eyes.

She didn't really know why she was so emotional. Maybe it was something about hearing Belle say those words, that made Regina's heart almost burst of happiness.

"Thank you Miss French, I appreciate it" Regina smiled.

"If something bad happens we'll fix it. If your mother goes crazy and throws you out, you can surely move in with Granny and Emma… because I have asked Ruby to move in with me."

"Ruby is moving in with you?" Regina asked surprised. She always thought Ruby would never leave her Granny.

"She hasn't said yes, well not yet anyway" Belle smiled broadly. She will though!

Emma fell asleep in the car on the way just shook her head and smiled at the adorableness as she turned on the radio. She was really pleased with the day and hoped Emma was too. After a while Ruby was totally in her own world, singing and tapping the steering wheel, when Emma suddenly woke up screaming.

Ruby got so scared she almost skidded off the road in an attempt to pull over. When they successfully pulled over Emma's scared eyes met hers, and Ruby reached for Emma's hand to give it a gentle squeeze. Emma pulled away.

"Emma it's ok. I'm Ruby your sister. Calm down hun, it was just a nightmare. Breathe Emma, breathe with me. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." Ruby said with a calm voice.

"It.. It was… so real" Emma panted and met Ruby's worried eyes. Fuck these dreams!

"Breathe Emma. It was just a dream. Your big sister is here, and no one is gonna hurt you ever again. I promise. Just breathe for me." Ruby noticed her sister's frenzied eyes calm slightly so she took a breath of relief herself. Ruby eased back into traffic.

"So do you want to talk about the dream?"

"No!" the blonde answered quickly. "I'm sorry Rubes. No I don't want to talk about it." Emma said honestly and Ruby gave her a concerned half smile

"That's ok Lil' sis. I understand." Ruby stated and Emma smiled wide. God, i love her so much! What did I ever do to deserve someone like her as a sister and best friend? I don't really deserve her love or kindness.

"Thanks….and sorry for scaring you." Emma sighed.

"Don't worry" Ruby said with a small smile. "It's gonna be alright, okay?"

"I hope so" Emma shrugged and reached for her phone.

E - Yeah I had a good day with Ruby. We ate ice-cream and pizza, and yes, in that order. I'm looking forward to spending the night with you too.

When Ruby finally parked the car outside the diner she was surprised to see that Belle wasn't inside. Granny met them both with a smile and a hug.

"Oh my girls are back! Have you had a good day?" she asked.

"Yeah" Emma grinned.

"Where's Belle?" Ruby asked and looked around the diner once more.

"Oh, I let her go early. I think she headed over to Regina's."

"Hey! Why don't you ever let me go early?!" Ruby frowned and received a glare from granny.

"Just go before I make you work." Granny chuckled.

Just 10 minutes later Emma and Ruby were standing outside of the mansion. Emma was nervous but excited.

"You ready sis?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah. Let's do this"

"Good." Ruby smiled. "Just be your adorable smart self, and you'll be fine!" Ruby promised and Emma smiled then rolled her eyes.