Dinner was quiet. Gold sat across the table from her, silently eating. Every once in a while he would glance at her, force a smile, then continue eating. Lacey did her best to calmly get through it all. It was almost eerie the way he looked at her. It was like he knew what was going on in her library when she stayed late at night. But, how could he? She felt they were being so careful.

Today was close though. She was frightened of what would have happened if he had gone up those stairs, if he had seen Ruby in her bed. She placed her fork down on her plate, suddenly nauseous. She wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it on the table, her hand instantly resting on her stomach to calm the feeling.

He looked up at her, concern on his features. "Are you alright, dear?" he inquired.

Lacey shook her head. "I'm suddenly not feeling very well," she responded, standing from the table. "If you don't mind, I think I'm going to lay down for a bit."

He wiped his lips and placed his napkin down. "I'll help you upstairs." He pushed away from the table and stood.

Lacey raised her hand and waved him off. "No, please, finish your dinner."

He walked over to her, the same sly smile on his lips. "I insist." He took her arm in his hand and started walking her toward the stairs.

Gold held her arm tightly as he walked swiftly toward the stairs. Lacey glanced at him, feeling the pressure from his fingers burning her arm. "You're holding on a bit tight," she stated.

He ignored her and continued walking. Instead of walking toward the stairs, he detoured to the living room. Lacey's feet struggled to keep up and she stumbled over them. She could feel the nervous feeling growing as he hobbled her toward the couch. He tossed her down hard on to it.

Lacey straightened up, her brow furrowing. "What is your problem?"

"I have a question for you, my dear." He took a step closer, pressing his hand into the arm of the couch. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He opened them again, staring hard at her. "What is that intoxicating scent you're wearing?"

She looked at him as if he had gone mad. "You know what it is." She did her best to remain in control of her voice that was trying to break with fear. "It's the same thing I always wear: D&G Light Blue."

He grinned as he raised his finger and shook it. "Oh, no. I know what that smells like." He took in another deep breath. "And that's not what you're wearing."

She swallowed hard. "I – "

He straightened and paced the floor in front of her. "I've smelled that before, but not on you." He tilted his head, shaking his finger at her. "You know who you smell like?" He halted his movement and stood directly in front of her. His hands gripped the top of his cane. "You smell exactly like Miss. Lucas."

Lacey pushed her hands into the couch. She could feel the sweat starting to build on them. She laughed nervously. "You are mad. Why would I – "

Before she could finish, he was bent over in front of her, staring her in the eyes.

"You've been seeing her, haven't you?!" he shouted, his hand gripping the cushion behind her. "She was upstairs today when I came to see you, wasn't she?!"

She moved back, trying to put space between them. "I hav – "

"Don't lie to me, Lacey!" he shouted, banging on the couch causing her to jump.

She stared back at him, swallowing down the lump in her throat. "Since you seem to know the truth, why do I need to confirm it?" she questioned calmly.

He looked away from her for a moment. "You will stop seeing her," he ordered flatly. He turned his attention to her again. "You will end things with her or I will end it for you."

Lacey narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms against her chest. "Are you threatening me?" She huffed. "You wouldn't harm me."

"No, not you." He pointed toward the door. "But, her … I have no problem harming her."

Her arms dropped from her defensive stance. She sat up, her eyes wide. "You wouldn't..."

He smirked. "Oh, but I would." He leaned in closer. "And you know it."

Lacey stared at him. She could feel the tears building. She couldn't let anything happen to Ruby. She loved her too much to allow it. Her mind was racing at the things he would possibly to do her. She felt even sicker than she had when she rose from the table. Sometimes love required sacrifice and this was one she was being forced to make.

She looked away from him. "Fine…" she muttered as the tears fell from her eyes. "I'll tell her tonight..."

He straightened and grinned. "Very good." He started to walk away then paused. "I'll go run your bath." He scrunched his nose and waved his hand. "Get the stench of rebel off of you." He disappeared off the stairs.

Once he was gone, Lacey placed her hands over face and fell into the couch as the sobs racked her body violently.

"I quit!" Ruby shouted as she threw down her apron and stormed out of the Diner.

She couldn't take this anymore. She was tired of being treated like a child by her grandmother, tired of being accused of running around bars and clubs all night. No one knew how much better her life had gotten since Lacey had been in it. All they continued to see was the woman who was always out late and almost never home.

It wasn't because she was running around The Rabbit Hole. She hadn't been there since the night she met up with Lacey. Her nights, her free days, were spent with the woman she loved, but she couldn't tell anyone that. She wished she could. It would make things so much easier. She took in a deep breath. She had faith that one day things would change. It would be different. She and Lacey would be free to show the town, show the world, what they had been sharing this whole time.

She turned the corner to the Inn, stopping short at the sight of the woman sitting on the front stoop. She tilted her head and approached cautiously. "Lacey?" she questioned as Lacey raised her head to look at her. Her eyes were puffy; she looked broken. She rushed to her and knelt down in front of her. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"He knows, Ruby…" she responded, her voice cracking with every word. "He knows about us…"

Ruby looked stunned. She fumbled over her words for a moment. "How…?"

"He smelled your perfume on me. ... He knows you were upstairs in the library..." She looked down at the sidewalk. "We can't do this anymore, Ruby." She bit her lip as she wrapped her arms protectively around herself. "We have to end this. I – I can't see you anymore."

Ruby felt like she had been punched. "You're leaving me?" she questioned, confused as Lacey slowly shook her head. She stood which was a bad idea because she felt as if she was about to faint. "But … if he knows, why not end it with him? Why end it with me?" She looked down at the woman who refused to make eye contact with her. "You don't love him. You love me."

Lacey continued to stare at the floor. "I'm sorry, Ruby..." She raised her hand, wiping a tear from her face. She stood slowly, her arms still wrapped around her body as she looked into the confused hazel eyes staring back at her. "I – I have to go."

Ruby reached out, grabbing her arm. "Lacey, no. Don't do this." She pulled her close. "Don't leave me. Not now. I need you."

The tears fell fast and hard down Lacey's face. She reached out, brushing her fingers against Ruby's cheek. She touched her face as if it would be the last time she would ever do it. She kissed her the same way. She slowly pulled back and rested her forehead against Ruby's, closing her eyes for a moment.

"Lacey, please…" Ruby begged softly.

"I have to go…" she repeated as she turned and swiftly walked away.

Ruby watched helplessly as Lacey quickened her step. She ducked her head as she turned around a corner and disappeared. Ruby stood there for several minutes, frozen. She had lost everything. Her job, her home, her love. She moved in a daze as she took the spot on the stoop where Lacey had sat. She placed her hands over her face and did the only thing she had strength left to do.

She cried.