Ruby gripped the book with both hands and heaved, turning her head in an attempt to avoid chocking on the dust bunnies that danced off the shelf it had been residing on.

After her and Luke's little chat, she had decided to do some research, in the hope that something could help bring an end to her... infatuation. Hence, Ruby had snuck into the stacks and located the (alarmingly large) section on "homosexual tendencies", as the small plaque screwed to the shelf had so quaintly labelled it. Somehow Ruby felt that "homosexual tendencies" didn't quite sum up the sloshing of desperation, adoration, confusion, pity and lust in the pit of her stomach every time she saw Mina.

So far her search had ranged from interesting, (in particular 'Feminism Gone Wrong', which depicted in great detail... positions and uh, the fulfilment of the suppressed genders need to dominate. Ruby had blushed guiltily; half mesmerised - half disgusted, especially at the chapter concerning punishment) to the completely useless (namely 'The Guide on How Best to Pleasure Your Same-Sex Lover' which had been written sometime in late 1800's and thus was mostly concerned with daisy chains and herbal tea as an aphrodisiac).

Ruby was half way through her fourth book, the rest of her finds scattered across the stacks table, when a voice behind said: "Ruby?"

The teenagers head snapped round so quickly, she almost fell of the chair. "M-Mina?"

The older woman frowned, leaning against the doorframe with effortless elegance. "It's late. Shouldn't you be at home?"

"I was just..." doing a little unsuccessful research into lesbianism, "looking up some stuff for my... history exam tomorrow."

"Oh." Mina smiled, moving towards the table, "find anything useful?"

"Well, not exactly," Ruby attempted to laugh lightly – instead she managed a manic breathy giggle. Useful? No. Interesting, certainly. For example if I ever do get around to declaring my undying love for you, I'll know exactly where to put my fingers...

"What is it you're looking for?" Mina pulled out the chair beside her and sank down into it. Ruby caught the muffled clunk of the blind woman's red heels hit the floor as she slipped her feet out of them and buried her stocking clad toes in the thick carpet. The younger girl grinned despite herself as Mina hummed contently.

"What is your exam on?" Mina repeated and before Ruby could stop her, she was pulling 'The Lesbian Hand Book' towards her and skimming her fingers over it.

"The, uh..." Frantically Ruby tried to remember a period of history – any history at all, swallowing loudly as Mina's fingers rested on one of the more explicit pictures. "The Victorians!"

Ruby winced. Note to self: avoid all mentions of Mina's tragic past. Also avoid topics of blood, vampirism, dead husbands... dead anything, plagiarism and unruly (possibly an understatement) sons.

She watched the blind woman's face, which for the most part remained impressively blank, apart from the flash of grief which flittered around the edges of her unfocused gaze. "...Sorry. I didn't mean to...um."

Mina sighed, closing the book her hands rested on. "It's fine. I'm sure I can be of help, I am after all somewhat of an expert on the era." Her smile was wry, tinged with sadness and something else that Ruby couldn't quite identify. Absentmindedly Mina began tracing the raised letters on the book beneath her hands... and then froze.

For a second her teenage companion couldn't breathe.

"Ruby...is this...?"

There was a beat of silence. Suddenly Ruby jolted into action, cheeks flaming red in the partial gloom of the stacks.

"It was nice to see you! I've got to go now. Early start. Need to be prepared!" She leapt out her chair and made a hasty break for the door – only to be hindered by a table which jabbed her painfully in the hip. "Fuck!" She glared furiously at the obstacle, ignoring Mina who had half risen from her seat and was chuckling lightly to herself.

"Ruby, really-"

The teenager ignored her, stuffing the book closest to hand in her bag (humiliated or not, they might prove useful later. If not her then, at least to Luke) and backing towards the door. "Exam tomorrow. Bye!"

She turned on her heel and fled.

Inside the stacks Mina sat back down and hummed thoughtfully. "'The Lesbian Hand book'?" She pulled another book towards her across the polished mahogany and ran her fingers over the lettering: "' Who Would Want to Be A 'Hetro'?'"

Perhaps it was time to do a little research of her own.

So... originally I was going to avoid the whole cliqued 'happy ending', but to my Demons/Zoe Tapper deprived mind I think Ruby, Mina, Luke, and yes even Galvin deserve a little fluff and their share of cliqued love.

Review, pleaaaase?