Ruby sat up in her bed, a sharp intake of breath the only signal that she was awake. Her green eyes snapped open and she glanced hastily around the room, noticing the sunlight beginning to stream through the windows. Throwing her long, slender legs over the side of the bed, she held her head in her hands and sighed. A shiver ran down her spine as the remnants of her dreams faded away, and she ran her fingers back through her black hair as she stood and looked at herself in the mirror.

Dark circles shadowed the underside of her eyes, and her skin seemed pale. Thankfully, no one had noticed, so she ignored it and pretended she didn't look like she hadn't slept in days. Honestly, she hadn't. Since Emma broke the curse over Storybrooke, life had been hectic to say the least. Her closest friend, Snow, was whisked away through a strange portal before Ruby could really catch up with her. She had no one to talk to other than Granny and that Belle girl, but she was so busy with the library and her strange relationship with Mr. Gold that Ruby didn't have the will to pursue another friendship. Perhaps if it didn't involve Rumplestiltskin, or Mr. Gold, or whatever he was called nowadays, then she would bother, but right now she didn't have the energy.

Granny seemed to notice her fatigue, but she remained silent about it. The old woman keeping silent about anything was practically an act of God since Granny never kept her opinions to herself, but she either didn't notice or didn't care in this situation. Everyone had enough to worry about as they remembered their past lives in conjunction with the craziness of their lives in Storybrooke while they were cursed.

But Ruby had other things to worry about than the things she'd said or done while under the curse.

Pulling on a red satiny corset top over her head, she tightened it and layered it with a black sweater which rested gently over her pale shoulders. Tugging her jeans on over her hips, she leaned on her elbows in front of the mirror and decided she was too tired to worry about too much make-up. Lightly powdering her cheeks, she settled for a gentle red to highlight the natural rosiness of her lips and braided her black and red streaked hair in a side braid which twisted behind her ear and rested on her shoulder.

She'd dreamed about him again last night, and she couldn't get it out of her mind, even after her morning routine was finished. Opening the top drawer of her dresser, she dug through the clothing until her slender fingers touched something cool and smooth. Withdrawing it, she slipped it beneath her clothes and shut the drawer.

"I'm going out," she called to Granny as she took the stairs two at the time down through the lobby of the inn and into the cafe. Granny eyed her suspiciously, but waved her off, knowing nothing she could say would stop her granddaughter from exploring if she wanted. Ruby had been openly devoted to helping the townspeople find their lost loved ones since the curse lifted, and she daily asked Charming if he had found a way to rescue Snow and Emma.

Today, however, that meeting would have to wait. After weeks of restless sleep, she couldn't delay the inevitable any longer.

She moved swiftly through town, stuffing her hands in the pockets of her jeans although it wasn't very chilly out. Her boots clicked on the sidewalk as she ambled along, watching her feet.

"Going somewhere in particular, dearie?" asked an all-too-familiar voice, bringing her up short.

Directly to her left stood Mr. Gold, his cane in hand, watching her from the doorway to his pawn shop. She glared at him for a moment, remembering the words Belle had confessed to her about him, but resolved to smile at him anyway. "Nowhere that would concern you, I'm sure," she responded curtly, shrugging noncommittally.

"Of course, of course. I don't mean to pry..." he answered, drawing out his syllables in that mysterious way of his that made you want to listen to him even as you ached to run. "Just helping to keep the town in order, what with the barrier and all."

"Last I checked, the prince was the acting-sheriff," she retorted, her delicate eyebrows raising as she fixed him with a challenging glare.

Gold smiled, his gold tooth glinting devilishly in the sunlight. "Of course he is. I merely intend to lend a hand, to prove I'm not all bad."

"I'm sure you do," was her simple response as she turned and started off.

"Careful, Ruby! Don't stay out too late," he cautioned, a hint of mocking in his tone.

He was still a powerful magic user, and he couldn't be too pleased with her after the way she'd talked back at him when he'd searched for Belle a few weeks before, but she couldn't say that she cared. She was too consumed with her current mission to care much about what anyone else was doing today. It seemed selfish, but she hadn't thought about herself since the curse was broken. She'd thrown herself into helping everyone in town, helping Charming, and worrying about whether Snow and Emma were gone forever. She hadn't thought about the one thing that now saturated her dreams.

She reached the flower shop before she expected, and she glanced blankly up at the sign before entering, sneezing delicately outside before holding her breath and pushing through the door. Since the curse was lifted and her wolf senses returned to her, she realized she really kind of hated flowers.

Pulling her hand away from her face once she was inside, she searched the dark recesses of the room until her eyes landed on a familiar red cap. Hastily, she walked to it to find it abandoned by its owner. Frustration rolled over her, and she glanced around, coming face to face with the shop's owner, Belle's father.

"Maurice," she stated flatly, a weak smile on her face. The imposing man, wider in girth and taller than her, had always intimidated her a bit. His recent attempt to send his own daughter through the deadly barrier of town didn't help her to trust him much, but he wasn't the reason Ruby was here.

"If you're looking for William, he's in the basement," Maurice grouched, pushing past her to water some plants.

"Um... thanks," she managed, smiling awkwardly and heading toward the door to the basement. Apparently no one came to visit the older man anymore. Or perhaps William had anticipated her arrival and voiced it to his current boss. Either way, she didn't dwell on it as she descended the stairs into the dark, damp cellar.

Memories of her time on a pirate ship rushed back to her and took her breath away, a lump swelling in her throat she had to swallow heavily as she continued to climb into the darkness. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she steeled herself and looked around the room. She spotted him the same moment he saw her, leaping up from his seat excitedly. Unsure how she'd expected him to react, she was relieved he was overjoyed to see her.

"Red!"

"Smee!" she cried, hastening to him and throwing her arms around him in a bear hug. He squeezed her so tightly she thought he may break a rib, and then he released her, holding her at arms' length to get a good look at her.

"I must say, I prefer the dresses, but this suits you too," he admitted playfully. She laughed and stepped away from him, glancing around the room at the metal contraptions he had in varying stages of disarray.

"Taken to metalworking?" she asked curiously, examining the screws and gears and shining metal objects littering the table where he worked.

"Just tinkering. Have to keep my mind on something," he admitted distantly. The lost sound in his voice wrenched her heart, and she sighed, looking down at her hand where it rested on the table. Without turning to face him, she spoke in a small voice, her heart in her throat.

"Have you seen him?"

It was a simple question, but Smee instantly knew her meaning.

"Nay, lass. Neither hide nor hair."

She closed her eyes, forcing herself not to cry. Just because he wasn't here didn't mean he was dead. Emma and Snow weren't here, and she refused to believe they were dead. They couldn't be. If they were... she didn't want to think of the consequences.

Turning to face the small man, she attempted a smile and failed as her lips quivered and her tears threatened to fall again. "What if he's gone?" she managed weakly, a single tear defying her by spilling over onto her cheek. She plopped down on the stool where he'd been working, too exhausted to admit her worries aloud.

Smee shook his head vehemently and crossed the space between them, wiping the tear from her face and gently gripping her elbows to get her attention. "He's not gone, lassy. I won't believe that. He is a pirate after all!" He declared it with such faith that she gasped out a single laugh, more tears escaping her eyes. Smee dried them and stared at her intently until she met his gaze.

"But what if he's dead... It's all my fault..." she choked, sobs gripping her throat. The small man hugged her as she began to cry, rubbing her back and attempting to soothe her.

"It's not true, Red. I won't believe it's true. None of this is your fault."

"But it is!" she cried, pushing him away and standing from the stool. "I'm the reason he left. I'm the reason he wasn't there when Regina released the curse-"

"Stop beating yourself up over this," Smee chided, not moving toward her as she turned to look at him. "The cap makes his own decisions. He always has. He's a stubborn one, that one."

She laughed cheerlessly and wiped her face, feeling her eyes swollen from the tears she'd promised herself she wouldn't cry. Smee smiled a small, sad smile as he swung his legs back and forth where he perched on the stool.

"He's too stubborn to die, and you know it," Smee concluded. Ruby nodded, not wanting to admit her doubts since the first mate seemed so determined to believe Hook was still alive. Still, she couldn't forget the gnawing fear in her stomach, a fear that told her she had lost him forever.

The situation on the pirate ship brightened considerably after the events in the naiad's lair. Sitting at the stern of the ship, Red hung her feet over the side and dangled them over the churning wake at the rear of the vessel. Resting her arms on the railing, she allowed herself to forget the worries she'd had over the past month. She still required that the pirate prove himself to her if he truly did need her as he'd professed when they were alone in that cave, but remembering his words made her heart dance excitedly in her chest. Smiling to herself, she twisted and peered over her shoulder, seeing the crew participating in a fake sword match. They were always challenging one another, but Hook was undoubtedly unmatched in sword-fighting. She could only imagine what he'd been like with two good hands.

Standing smoothly, she crossed the rear deck and leaned against the wall of the crew's quarters, watching the sparring match. Each man gained his opportunity to battle their captain as the challenge progressed. Some men were hopelessly outmatched and easily beaten, but others were quite skilled with the sword. Some chose the knife instead, deftly dodging the strikes of the longer weapon. But they all walked away losers. Even after defeating half the crew, Hook appeared only mildly winded, and she was amazed by his stamina. Sweat beaded on his brow, but his eyes glinted with the thrill of the fight. He had shed his black jacket long ago, and his silken black shirt clung to his sweaty skin in some places, outlining the muscles hidden beneath.

Unfortunately, the entire scene did little for the sexual tension she already felt whenever she was around him, and Red excused herself as Hook defeated his final opponent. He saw her turn and leave as he wiped his brow and took a long drink of fresh water. He'd been unable to talk to her directly since that day at the cave, but he had arranged for her to have her own room. The hold was no place for her any longer. As the crew dispersed to their various duties, he excused himself and followed her. He had to approach her or he never would, and he couldn't bear the idea of them returning to their stagnant point of miscommunication.

When he knocked lightly on the door frame of her chamber, he found her sitting on the edge of her bed, her fingers caressing the ruby around her neck before she started at his arrival. Rising hastily from the bedside, her eyes swelled excitedly as she recognized him. His hair was damp from his sweat, and the way his shirt practically blended into his skin made her breath come short. Forcing herself to focus as he fixed her with his mischievous smirk, she raised her chin and eyebrows and crossed her fingers over her waist.

"Is there something you need?" she asked in a business-like tone, hating the way she sounded in her own ears. She could feel her walls raising again, threatening to push him away as the fear of the naiad's wicked words coming true picked at her.

Hook shrugged and stood from where he leaned against the door, wiping his hands with the towel he'd used to mop off his face. Setting it on one of the crates that served as a night table, he moved toward her, and she stiffened with inexplicable anticipation. Surely he wouldn't try to kiss her again here where they were relatively exposed, where his crew could see him giving in to his affections for her. But she found herself desperately hoping to feel his lips again, and her heart beat rapidly in the interim.

"I wanted to show you something," he admitted, stepping toward her. He was perfectly at ease in her presence, and she felt foolish as she blushed when he grew near. She'd confessed to him once that she didn't want to sleep with him because the time wasn't right, because she didn't love him. But she couldn't hide the open interest she had in him now, especially after their confessions in the cave, and she felt like a hypocrite. He didn't notice her discomfort, or ignored it, and he reached out for the ruby talisman hanging around her neck.

His fingers brushed her skin as he lifted in the jewel in his hand and looked up into her green eyes. How beautiful those eyes were.

"Take it," he ordered gently. She examined him with her penetrating gaze for a moment, searching his motives, before she reached up and gingerly took the talisman from his grasp. Before, if she tried to move the gem, it remained firmly fixed in place. Only her captor could move it, and he'd clearly pointed this out to her more than once.

Her breath caught in her throat as the gem felt weightless in her hand, moving freely as she marveled at it. Realizing what this meant, that she was no longer his property and it was her choice to wear the ruby or to remove it, she sucked in a breath of relief. Impulsively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and threw her weight against him, hugging him tightly around his neck.

Surprised by her reaction after the tremulous awkwardness that hung between them since he'd killed the naiad and rescued her from its lair, he timidly wrapped his arm around her and then held her tighter as she leaned into him. Feeling her relief relaxed him, and he held her, allowing himself to enjoy her closeness. They stood like that for a moment before she realized she was clinging to him and released him with a clearing of her throat.

"Thank you..." she whispered fervently, looking down at the stone and up at him, her cheeks flushed with contentment.

"Of course," he responded easily, smiling slightly.

They stood closer than two people should, the fabric of her green dress rustling around his knees as she shyly looked down at her necklace. Unable to take it any longer, he placed his hand beneath her chin and pulled her face up so she was looking at him. As soon as their eyes locked, she felt her throat clench up as emotions overpowered her. She'd opened herself to this possibility with him, and his releasing of her from the spell which trapped her meant the world to her. It meant he trusted her, and he was willing to let her go if that was what she wanted. However, that trust made her want to stay with him in a way nothing else could.

Instinctively, her hand reached for him, resting on his upper arm, and her lips parted slightly as she tried to find something to say. His eyes smoldered longingly, and this time she didn't see only lust there. She didn't see the raw animalistic hunger in his eyes that she'd seen on the beach, and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest.

"Killian..." she mumbled, and the sound of his name on her lips (her real lips, not the twisted replica of her he'd seen in the naiad's den) forced him to confine the growl of pleasure that sound brought to his ears.

"Ruby," he replied, and she smiled so suddenly he smiled back at her instantly. "What is it?"

She shook her head, her black curls bouncing around her face. "Nothing, it's just... that name. I like it." She smiled happily up at him, not moving away from him like she had the last time they'd been this close.

"It's just between us though," she confided, raising her eyebrows teasingly. "It's... special that way."

The adorable way she confessed to wanting to share something so simple with him made him feel like a fool, but in a good way. He'd never been willing to just stand and stare at a woman the way he wanted to do with her. He'd always jumped directly into sleeping with them, and he'd never found a woman he appreciated just for her. Until Ruby, his Ruby.

His hand brushed a curl of her black hair away from her cheek, wrapping the curling tendrils around his index finger. His thumb found her cheek, and he outlined the curve of her skin as she watched him intently. The way she so boldly watched him, since the day he'd first realized she was a woman and not a wolf in the hold of his ship: it urged him to respect her and admire her strength. He hated weak people, women in particular, and Ruby was anything but weak.

"I'm going to kiss you now," he whispered thickly as his face began gravitating toward hers.

"It's about time." He smiled as she lifted onto her toes to meet him. This kiss was different than every kiss they'd shared before. This time, there was no surprise to it. It was mutual, both parties meeting halfway as only they could find acceptable. It wasn't rushed and frantic as their other kisses had been, but it had a low burning desperateness to it. They both needed this, this shared connection between them.

Her hands found his biceps, and she dug her fingers into his wet shirt as she pressed into him. His hooked hand wrapped around her as she leaned into him, and he held her strongly, his good hand sliding from her face around to the back of her head and burying itself in her thick, black hair.

When she had to pull away to breathe, she released a long, low breath, his nose touching her forehead as she remained pressed to his body. She wanted him so badly now, but a part within her felt guilty for moving so fast. However, she knew if he asked, she would give in. Killian seemed to sense this, and he sighed into her hair as he tilted his head up and kissed her forehead.

"No more kissing. I can't handle it," he admitted, causing her to chuckle as her head rested on his chest. She could hear his heart beating as quickly as her own, and she smiled to herself.

"I want it to be right for both of us," he continued, pulling her away from him so he could see her eyes.

Although she was disappointed, she was also relieved. The pressure was gone, that pressure to somehow impress him after all of the women he'd been with. The pressure of those past lovers alone was enough to make her balk, but he was right. It wasn't right for her. She needed more before she could take that next step. She must trust herself also before she could fully trust him not to break her heart.

With that, he kissed her lightly on her lips again and turned, leaving her alone in her room, her fingertips touching her lips where he'd kissed her and her daydreams carrying her off to wild fantasies about when she would next feel his arms again.