It took me much longer to write this chapter than I would think. And, surprisingly (haha) it got longer than I planned it to so I had to cut it and save the rest for next time.
I asked on twitter about ice cream choices for our ladies and I have to say that people's ideas matched mine so I'm pleased with that. Please leave comments and reviews about what you dis/liked, I really appreciate every single one!
You can also find me on tumblr (october-lady) or on twitter (named_lucie).
It's been a few days since all the changes and their lives getting a little bit new direction. Ruby made Zelena promise not to use magic while she's alone. The red head didn't obviously like it, saying she can control her magic and do simple tricks. But the brunette insisted, saying that it's at least for the beginning until they are really sure everything still works the way it should.
It was about three days later when Regina stopped by at Granny's to talk to Ruby.
"Can I talk to you?" Regina leaned on the counter.
"Regina, this really isn't the best time, we're really busy here," the younger brunette barely looked at her as she grabbed the plates and hurried to bring them to the right tables. It was just in the middle of lunch time which meant the place was packed.
"It's important," Regina pressed when Ruby came back behind the counter.
"It always is," she sighed.
"It's about Zelena," Regina lowered her voice a little bit.
"What about her?" Ruby stopped for a moment to look at the mayor.
"I think we should discuss the conditions in more details. The last time we spoke… I was a little… let's say, surprised."
Ruby felt relief instantly, she got scared for a moment that something happened or that Regina has some great idea, like using the cuff again whenever Zelena wasn't allowed to use magic.
"Yes, and you still seem surprised. Look, let me get you something to eat and when it calms down a bit, we can talk, okay?" Ruby called over her shoulder, already running away with more plates.
It took almost an hour till all the guests were fed and the situation calmed down a bit.
"Alright, what did you want to talk about?" Ruby landed on the barstool next to Regina.
"I'm just concerned about my sister using magic, especially without any supervision."
"She's not gonna use magic when she's alone, I promise."
"You can't know that. Besides, what would you do if the situation got out of control? You don't have any magic, how would you stop her?" Regina was frowning, not persuaded about Ruby's abilities.
"Just like I already did about the three times before." Ruby rolled her eyes.
"What if you can't get close to her enough to touch her?"
"Already happened. She didn't want me to touch her. Yet we still stopped the storm." Ruby grinned at the mayor, a little bit proudly.
"What?! Did you try to do something she didn't want? I swear, Ruby, if you…" Regina's eyes flashed with anger.
"Relax. It's cute that you're worried about your older sister. But despite what you might think of me, I'm not that person, not anymore. The Ruby I was during the curse. Which was your creation anyway, which makes me wonder, madam Mayor, why did you make me so slutty?" Ruby leaned closer and narrowed her eyes.
"I should have made Snow a bit more that way, shouldn't I?" Regina smirked at her. "I know I wasn't the best sister, but she's the only blood family I have. And I swear if you hurt her, or the baby…!"
"Stop threatening me, Regina, that's not your style anymore. I promise I have no bad intentions about your sister. I think she deserves help, that's it."
"And what about the baby?" Regina asked.
"You think I'd hurt a baby?! I'm sorry, Regina, but if anyone, that you're the only one with a motive." Ruby sounded a little bit hurt at the remark.
"I moved on, in case you haven't noticed."
"I have. Would it make you feel better if you were there the first time?"
"Tonight at eight, in my vault." Regina smiled at her and finally left the diner.
"Hey, Zelena," Ruby smiled when she heard the other woman's voice in the phone.
"Hello," Zelena smiled, trying to hide her own smile.
"What would you say if I'd suggest a date?"
"A date? Really?"
"Why are you so surprised?"
"I'm not… surprised…" She tried to deny it. It was pointless. Of course she was surprised. No matter what happened, she still couldn't believe all of what was currently going on. She couldn't believe that someone would take time and tried to get to know her and even less she could believe that someone would actually fight her sister for her.
"Yes, you are. But that's okay. So? What do you say? Wanna go on a date with me?"
"I… yes, yes, I do." She relaxed. She is allowed to have something good after all, isn't she…
"Great! I'll pick you up at… let's say in about an hour?" Ruby quickly looked at her wrist to check the time.
"Alright. And what are we doing? I mean, I just want to know what to wear, you know…."
"Just be yourself," Ruby smiled when she heard the uncertainty in the other woman's voice. "And, there's something I need to tell you."
"What?" It was like a switch, Zelena immediately turned into defensiveness.
"There's nothing to worry about, I promise."
"We'll see about that." Zelena sounded distant, the joy was gone from her voice.
"Sweetheart, I swear, there's nothing bad." Ruby was cursing herself for actually saying something.
"Don't be late." She was still serious but the nicknames the brunette was using to address her pleased her, even tho she would never admit it.
"Ice cream, seriously, Ruby?" The red head laughed at the simplicity of their date. "Are we teenagers?"
"Well… What can I say… you wanted to take it slowly and I didn't want to scare you off." Ruby smiled and licked her dark cherry and chocolate ice cream.
"How can you be sure that ice cream won't scare me off?" Zelena smirked at her.
"Well… it won't. You could just leave." Ruby looked around, indicating that they were outside in the open space, no obligations to stick for long.
"True. Thank God I don't have to stick through a whole dinner," Zelena smirked at the brunette again, tasting her mint ice cream with chocolate chips. "So what did you want to tell me?"
"Yeah… that… I almost forgot." Ruby rolled her eyes.
"So it wasn't important I assume?"
"Oh it is. I'd just rather forget and not let it spoil our date."
"What do you mean, spoil our date?" Zelena frowned.
"Your sister stopped by at the diner today."
"Oh." Zelena's mood sank down to zero. Of course her sister wouldn't let her be happy and have something nice.
"She's just worried," Ruby turned to look at the other woman and put her hand on her arm in a comforting gesture.
"Of course she is. Worried that I might be happy."
Ruby smiled but didn't say anything. She wasn't sure if Zelena was even aware of what she said or if being happy had really something to do with her, as she liked to think.
"She is worried about you using magic, more specifically, what happens if I'm the only one there and your magic goes out of control and I'm not able to calm you down."
"What did you say?" Zelena asked silently, suddenly being too interested in her ice cream.
"I said that I'd find a way. But…" she stopped, pulling the red head's hand to do the same, "she wants to be there the first time you practise…" Ruby finished hesitantly.
"What?! And I suppose you agreed?" There was anger in her eyes, but not just that, there was something more.
"I – yes, I did. I… didn't think that would be a problem? I mean, we all agreed to that just a few days ago?"
"When?"
"Tonight," Ruby just whispered, suddenly not feeling like eating her ice cream anymore.
"You decided without me! I agreed to try this," she gestured between them, "whatever it is but I didn't give you permission to decide about me! No one gets to decide what I do or what happens to me or my baby!" Zelena was furious. Everyone just keeps deciding about everything and she hardly has a say.
"I'm sorry, Zelena, I really am. I didn't realize…" but she didn't have a chance to finish.
"Of course you didn't! You all just keep thinking about yourselves but no one actually thinks about me and what I want!"
"Now that's not true!" Ruby threw her ice cream in the garbage can standing near them and turned back to Zelena. "I did think about you! I'm sorry I decided about when it is but we agreed that there has to be someone present when you do magic and it was clear Regina would want to be there. And I thought about you because I know you don't want her to be there, or anyone. I know you don't want anyone to supervise you. So I wanted to get it over with, I wanted Regina to see that you're able to control your own magic so that you'd be allowed to use magic by your own soon and decide for you and your baby! So stop being unfair!"
Zelena opened her mouth but closed it again.
"Now finish your ice cream, we have to go soon," Ruby smiled at her and pushed a wild curl behind her ear.
They continued walking, Zelena eating her ice cream and Ruby just smiling.
"There was no storm!" Zelena suddenly stopped.
"What do you mean?" The brunette frowned confused.
"I was angry but I didn't make a storm!" Joy was audible in her voice.
"See, that's what I'm talking about. You used magic a lot during the past few days. And, I knew you can control yourself." Ruby winked at her.
"Ruby? Thank you," Zelena whispered and waited for the brunette to turn around and look at her. And then she kissed her, just a quick peck on her lips. But it was enough to let the other woman with closed eyes and a smile plastered on her lips.
"What was that for?"
"Just… for believing in me. No one ever does."
"In that case… I think I'll get lots of kisses because I do believe in you," Ruby laughed and hooked her arm under Zelena's.