Author's Note: I don't own anything.

They returned to the house not much later. Belle and Ruby cleaned it up before Ruby had to take off for work. Granny wasn't feeling well and needed Ruby to cover her shift. "So if you need anything please don't hesitate to call me okay?" Ruby reminded Belle, "Don't go to see Mr. Gold, stay here, don't answer the phone, and don't answer the door."

Belle nodded as she went to sit on the couch. Ruby was nervous about leaving her friend. Something didn't feel right as Ruby went to walk out of the door. She ignored it and went on her way to the diner.

On Ruby's lunch break she called the house phone and Belle didn't pick up. She decided to stop by her apartment and check up on Belle. Ruby's keys jingled as she pulled them out of her pocket and went to turn in the key. The door opened and Ruby walked in.

"Belle?" she called.

There was no answer. Ruby's heart pounded as she came into the kitchen and she saw a note.

It read:

I can't help it. I need to see him. He needs me.

Belle

Ruby freaked out and bolted out of the door. Her friend could be in danger. She ran outside and tried tracking Belle. She came across Belle's scent at Mr. Gold's Pawnshop. She burst in breaking the door to find Belle in Mr. Gold's arms. "What did I tell you?" roared Ruby.

Belle jumped off of Mr. Gold and snapped, "You can't control me."

Mr. Gold was glaring at Ruby. "How dare you try to come between Belle and I."

"How dare I?" screamed Ruby, "How dare you almost kill my best friend and lure her back? You disgust me."

Ruby lunged a Mr. Gold and thrashed him against the wall. "I could destroy you if I wanted to, but I won't for Belle's sake," Ruby sneered, "You stay away from her."

Mr. Gold was ghost white as Ruby pulled away. She glared at Belle. "You have a choice to make. It's either me or him."

"Don't make me choose."

"You have to. This is your life. He hurt you. He could have killed you. You could be gone. Do you honestly want that? This is how you repay me after all I've done for you?"

Belle was silent. "I just wanted-"

"I don't care Belle," sighed a frustrated Ruby, "If you chose him, don't come back crying to me when he hurts you again, because I promise you if you do, it will happen again."

Belle was on the verge of tears. She looked back at Ruby and then back at Mr. Gold. Everyone's heart was breaking for different reasons. It was so silent in the room you could hear a pin drop.

Belle stood between the two of them and looked at Ruby and then Mr. Gold. "I'm sorry," she cried as she walked toward Mr. Gold.

Ruby threw her hands up in frustration and stormed out of the shop. She headed down to her apartment and began to thrash everything in sight. She broke glass and whatever she could get her hands on. She fell to her knees and sobbed as she cradled herself back and forth with glass shards surrounding her. Why was Ruby feeling this way? The rage was boiling inside.

"Ruby?"

Ruby lifted her head with her eyes red and puffy. It was Belle.

"You took off so fast, you didn't hear what I said to Rumple."

Belle gasped as she saw all the damage. She sat down next to Ruby holding her hand on Ruby's cheek wiping away the remains of her tears. Belle looked sad as she said, "What happened?"

Ruby ignored Belle.

"Ruby please."

Ruby got up and went to her balcony in her apartment where of course it started to rain. Belle walked out seeing Ruby was soaked. "Ruby, I chose you."

Ruby closed her eyes letting the rain mix with her tears. "I made a huge mistake, I realized that what I was doing was out of pure pity and not love. I don't love Mr. Gold. I love you."

Ruby opened her eyes and saw Belle climbing to sit next to her. "Ruby, I love you."

Belle wrapped herself against Ruby feeling the warmth of her. Ruby rested her head against Belle, and Belle lifted Ruby's face so she could see it. Belle leaned into Ruby with their eyes meeting and they kissed for the first time. Ruby gave into what her body wanted. She needed Belle and Belle needed her.