Peter entered the diner looking like he hadn't gotten any sleep for a couple days. He looked tired and stressed. The gloomy rainy morning looked more uplifting than the young exhausted doctor. Mary Margaret was at home asleep, as usual. As long as Emma was at home with her, he felt comfortable leaving Mary Margaret's side long enough to get the three of them breakfast.

"Hey tot" Ruby said as he approached the counter.

"Hey brat" Peter said with the same teasing tone.

"What will it be today?" Ruby asked as she took out her note pad and pen from her apron.

Peter looked at the chalk sign on the wall behind Ruby. Ruby had written "Ask About Today's Breakfast Specials" in bright neon pink chalk.

"Hey what's today's breakfast special?" Peter asked.

"2 eggs, 1 sausuage,1 slice of bacon, 2 pancakes and hash browns." Ruby said, proud of herself for remembering.

"3 orders of the breakfast special then-oh and three coffees to go along with that, please."

"How do you want the eggs? Margie would like them scrambled." Ruby leaned against the counter.

"Just make them all scrambled then." Peter replied.

"Coming right up." Ruby said as she scribbled on the notepad and ripped it out. Peter watched her disappear into the kitchen. He sat on a stool and clasped his hands in front of him, on the counter. Peter gave a heavy sigh and looked down at his hands. He looked up when Ruby slid a fresh cup of coffee in his direction.

"Oh the house" she gave him a smile.

"The whole order? Thanks!" Peter laughed and took the cup.

"No you r-tard, just the coffee. You look like you need it….that and the whole rest of the pot of coffee." Ruby finished off. Peter gave her a smirk and took a long thoughtful sip. Ruby frowned when she noticed his serious face.

"How is she?" Ruby asked and set the pot of coffee down. Ruby knew Peter would know exactly who she was referring to.

"Good." Peter answered a little too quickly.

"Come on, give me the honest answer. Margie's one of my best friend and she's not letting anyone visit her….you're the only one I can really ask." Ruby gave him a soft glare.

"Physically…she's fine- to an extent. She spent a week and a few days at the hospital, and since she's been home she's been in bed…for almost 2 weeks. She should be walking around and getting some fresh air. She won't though. She refuses every time and then she asks me what I'm still doing there with her. She doesn't want in on this worthless relationship she says- though not necessarily in those words. My rephrase of the line is a lot more…softer than what she had to say. So physically she is fine. Mentally, she's not so healed."

"What do you mean?" Ruby placed a hand on her hip and waved off a costumer who lifted up an empty cup, asking for coffee.

"She's sad. She won't admit it- she doesn't talk about it to anyone. Not to Emma not to me. She just….sleeps and when she's not asleep, she pretends to be asleep so that she doesn't have to talk or hear us. She barely eats either. I'm worried. She's getting weak and sick and she looks sick. I'm so afraid of finding her one of these days, dead or close to it. I hate it and it kills me to sit and watch her….waste away. These pass couple of weeks have been bad. She blames herself for what happened. I don't know what to do." Peter looked up at Ruby, his eyes glazed with tears.

Ruby put a hand on his. "Just be there for her. Don't leave her. Just be there. She will come around eventually and if it becomes worse to a point maybe she needs to see someone specialized, like Archie. But I know her…and I know you….Everything will come around." Ruby said with sincere and full of hope. Peter gave her a big smile of thanks.

"It's just really…hard for her." Peter spoke with sadness.

"Of course it is. What she went through is traumatic. You need to rest and get cleaned too. Don't forget to take care of yourself. You're no good to Mary Margaret looking like a dirty lost boy." Ruby said.

"Thank you." Peter said.

"No problem." Ruby nodded.

"Don't tell anyone that uhhhh we got along." Peter said after a few moments of silence.

"Not a soul!" Ruby chuckled, and Peter grinned. "I'll go see if your food is ready. Were pretty quick around here."

Peter gave her a smile of gratitude. He felt his smile disappear when he thought about how Mary Margaret's breakfast would most likely go uneaten.

Ruby returned a few minutes later. She handed him a bag and a coffee holder holding three cups of fresh coffee.

"Tell Margie I say hello." Ruby said as Peter paid her.

"I will." He said and turned to leave. "Wait…did you call me an r-tard earlier in the conversation?"

"Get out of here." Ruby shook her head and laughed as he left, in a slightly better mood.