Chapter 6: Friendship

Ruby stood at the lunch counter trying none to hard not to stare at the man seated in a booth in her section of the diner. The man all in all wasn't that scary, well that's not true. Just looking at him you knew he was a man that suffered no nonsense, didn't take no for an answer and was damn used to getting his way. She hated the man, if for no other reason than for her dear friend's sake. How could he do this to Belle? The woman was as good as they came, hands down.

Ruby often wondered how it was that she, a reformed wild child, had happened to befriend the best people in the known world. Mary Margaret and Belle were the best. How could this Mr. Gold really take everything away from her? Surely there was something he could do? Work with her? Something! He was a revered businessman and owned a company that specialized in problem solving. Ruby knew that Belle was far more deserving of the help than that bastard Gaston was.

Maybe Ruby should try and explain to him how good Belle was… Maybe she could be nice, for Belle's sake. Maybe.

"Good afternoon Mr. Gold, what can I get for you?" Ruby tried her best to smile and hoped it wasn't the garish phony smile everyone told her she had when she tried to fake it.

By Mr. Gold's raised eyebrow she guessed she hadn't succeeded in fooling him.

"Oh I was never any good at faking it…" Ruby unceremoniously dumped herself across from the older man with a deep groan. "It's like this Mr. Gold, Belle is a good friend of mine, she's a really, really, really," Ruby paused sounding almost pained, "really, good person. I hate to see her in this spot. It's not her fault, it's her damn irresponsible father's and that blasted Gaston git. I know she's been falling behind on payments …and that the store isn't profitable but she's trying. Really trying!"

Mr. Gold's facial expressions didn't change, he simply look at her with cold brown eyes and listened.

"I know, I know…you work for that bloody man…"

Mr. Gold lifted a hand, "Mr. Gaston is a client, I work for no person. Keep that straight dearie."

Ruby flinched sitting back blinking, "Okay… Mr. Gaston is your client but please…please…" Ruby realized she wasn't even sure what to ask for or how to ask it, she just knew she had to ask…something.

Mr. Gold settled back against the red pleather of the booth and peered at her with a strange expression she couldn't figure out.

"Mrs. Hopper, while I actually commend your loyalty to your friend, I find it highly inappropriate that you would interceded with me. Ms. French's business with me is none of your concern."

Ruby was unfazed by the acid dripping from his words.

"That is where you're wrong, dearie, in this town we look after each other and especially Belle. Nobody else looks after her."

Ruby was pleased to see a brief look of shock on his face. She rose from the booth and tried to shrug back into her waitress role, "Did you decide what you wanted for lunch?"

He looked up with a mocking smile, "Besides the tears of virgins and the blood of saints? I'll have coffee and the Monte Cristo…dearie."

She refused to flinch when he ended his order with a sneer. Gathering as much decorum as she felt she could, she tossed her hair over her shoulder and marched back to slap the order slip on the spindle for the cook.

Refilling a few coffee cups and sodas she figured she had time to sneak out and make a quick call to Archie. There just had to be a way to save's Belle store.

Outside the air was nippy and Ruby wished she had grabbed her coat but settled for wrapping her arms close to her body as she dialed her husband of less than 8 months.

"Hi sweetie…what an unexpected surprise to talk to you. Everything okay?"

Ruby smiled soon as her husband's voice filled her ear. She had married such a sweet, sweet loving man. "Hi, yeah, everything is okay. I just wanted to hear your voice…and I was wondering do you care if we have Belle and maybe the Nolan's over for dinner?"

"Of course not, are you sure everything is okay?"

Ruby smiled hearing the concern, she was grateful again for having such a sweet and caring husband. "Yes, I'm just worried about Belle and was hoping we all could figure out someway to help."

"You're a good woman Ruby Hopper…I'm sure lucky to have you."

Ruby pinked up feeling all warm and cozy, warmth radiating out from her heart. She was sure it was because they were still in the honeymoon phase but she was sure madly in love with that man.

"I'm pretty sure I'm the lucky one, love you…and I'll see you tonight."

After a few gushy lovey sentiments Ruby hung up with a silly smile on her face. Some people didn't understand how they could possibly be a couple but she knew there wasn't a man in the world she could love more, or who loved her more.

Mary Margaret Nolan was just wrapping up her last parent/teacher conference of the day and couldn't be more pleased. It wasn't that Jefferson and Alice March weren't pleasant people, they were…they were just a little bit, well, different. Their daughter Grace was a joy though. All her kids were really wonderful kids and she considered herself lucky to have such a great group of kids.

That didn't mean Mary Margaret was a saint though, conferences were hellish on even the most angelic of teachers. So many questions, so much to explain. The parents with the academic kids were easier to placate, usually. The kids that needed extra care, well that was a little harder to explain to the parents. Every child she taught was bright and caring and smart, some just had different ways of learning, different ways of expressing themselves and the curve for them was much more critical. Explaining the more subtle nuances of that was straining at times.

Grace March was a excellent, vivacious student that took a great deal after her father, even if she looked like her blond haired, blue-eyed mother. Jefferson March was a bit of eccentric. He was a surveyor for the city and an amateur cartographer. Alice was a homemaker and had a side business making candles that she sold to the antique and gift shop in town. Mary Margaret was a big fan of the candles, they were next magical, and they almost transported you to another world.

Mary Margaret sighed as she locked up her classroom and gave a small wave to Dawn and her husband Philip as she went to her car. Dawn taught Home Economics, which baffled Mary Margaret greatly seeing as Dawn couldn't even thread a needle without pricking her fingers, but there was far more to home-ec than sewing she knew, but Dawn just didn't seem to know much of it.

As she was getting into her car her cell phone rang shrilly.

"Well hello Mr. Nolan," she grinned starting her car.

"Hello Mrs. Nolan, you are sounding quite chipper. Did your meetings go well?"

"Oh they went as well as could be hoped…I really do have great kids in my class. Their parents are good people…"

Her husband snickered, "But you still would like a glass of wine and some chocolate now."

She smiled broadly, "Oh David, you know me so well."

"Indeed I do Princess, and I know this probably isn't the first thing you'd choose to do after your day today but Ruby and Archie invited us over to dinner tonight. There is some business with Belle, about her store. Has something to do with that new guy that showed up in town, believe his name is Mr. Gold. They asked us to come over so we could all talk."

Mary Margaret bit her lip, "Of course we'll go. We have to go. I do worry about Belle, that girl has gone through so much. …David, I just know she's in trouble with that store, why won't she let anyone help?"

"I don't know sweetheart, but we'll help her. Archie said dinner was about 7 and to come over whenever."

"Okay, well I'm headed home soon as I'm done talking to you, should I stop and pick up something for dessert do you think?"

"Emma decided to make apple pie, Belle showed her a recipe last week evidently."

Mary Margaret frowned. She really wasn't all that fond of apples. Ever since she had bit into that awful Red Delicious apple when she was a teenager and found the inside rotten and worm in it, she just hadn't been able to stomach them.

"Well, one pie probably won't be enough for all of us, why don't I stop and pick up a coffee cake or two from Granny's?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you at home in about a half hour?"

"Yes, unless Granny accosts me," she laughed.

"See you then, love you Mrs. Nolan."

"Love you too Prince Charming," she laughed ending the call and slid her phone back into her purse.

She didn't know what to do about Belle. The girl, well woman, she was 26 after all, was one of her closest friends and like a second mother to her daughter or maybe a big sister. Mary Margaret wasn't exactly sure how Emma saw Belle, but she knew she meant the world to her. She also meant everything to her. Belle was a little sister, best friend to her and when she hurt, her heart hurt too.

Putting her car into gear she pulled out of the parking lot with a million things on her mind.

Belle finally locked up her shop with a fond little caress to the rose in the center. It had been a long and tiring day, now she was expected to sit through dinner. It wasn't, of course that she didn't love her friends dearly and appreciate their concern she really did but the thought of sitting at a table and having them pity her? Have them look at her with that sadness…no she just couldn't do that. Not again, not after everything.

She pulled her worn blue wool pea coat closer to body, starting to walk down the street in rapidly fading daylight. Walking was good. Walking helped her clear her head. When the books and real life pressed in on her and she begun to feel claustrophobic, walking helped. She sometimes wondered what it would be like if she just kept walking.

It was just after 5, dinner was at 7 she would wait until 6:45 or so and call Ruby and bow out, tell her that she was maybe feeling sick or something. Close enough to dinner Ruby couldn't come look for her at the shop without leaving dinner. She felt rotten doing it, she really did but she couldn't face them all, not tonight.

She walked until Main Street faded and she was nearing the docks. The sky was barely light, a smoky grey with just the barest hits of fading orange. She didn't really mind though, the marina lights were starting to flicker to life and it comforted her.

She had always liked the Storybrooke Docks, many fond memories with her father, even some, though a bit faded and worn, with her mother.

"Oh momma…I miss you." She sat on the bench staring at the boats docked bobbing ever so slightly. It was soothing. Almost like she was remembering a life from far off. She dared to let tears fall here, by herself away from people and their scrutiny.

"Ms. French?"

She started, choking on a cry. She jumped up from the bench spinning to the brogue that was coming from behind her.

"Mr…Mr. Gold!" she stuttered trying to discreetly wipe at her eyes, "What…what are you doing all the way out here?"

Mr. Gold stepped out of the shadows into the light of the docks. "I walk when I need to think."

Belle actually laughed dryly wiping at her eyes giving up trying to hide her tears. "Of course you do…"

Mr. Gold now stood at her bench tipping his head looking at her curiously. "My knee does pain a bit Ms. French, but it doesn't keep me completely immobile dearie."

She caught the slight resentment in the otherwise innocent comment.

She shook her head, "I'm sorry…I didn't mean that, that would have been rude of me…it's just, that's rather why I'm here too. I walk when I need to think. And I was thinking about you…and my mom. It just seemed a little bit…" she trailed smiling shyly at him, gaze dropping.

"Ironic?" he supplied, "May I?" he gestured to the bench, she nodded and they sat.

"I don't know about ironic, maybe, something closer to coincidental?" she smiled again.

"Do you regularly smile this often at someone that has told you he'll be kicking you out of your home?" he kept his gaze on the boats.

"Other than you, only my father has kicked me out of my home, " she laughed a bit harshly.

Mr. Gold turned to look at her, "Your father kicked you out?"

She had no idea why she was suddenly feeling chatty, especially toward this man, maybe it was simply the relief of talking to someone she knew wouldn't give her pity. She had educated herself on the Crocodile, he didn't show pity and what was the worse that could happen? She could air her dirty laundry to this man whose blood ran cold and get it off her chest. He couldn't use of this against her. At least no more than the events were hurting her already.

"Yes, when I was 17. My mom had been gone ten years, he was losing the B&B…I'm sure Granny told you the story?" she knew Granny couldn't keep a story to herself even if she carried it with two hands in a bucket with a lid. He nodded that he knew.

"He had taken to drinking heavily after she died, he had gotten 3 DUI's in the previous year. Lost his license, refusing AA and missing his court appointed counseling with Dr. Hopper. I reminded him of her he said… Looking at me was torture. Hearing me speak… My very presence he said made him drink more. He was in a car accident; he went into the front of the hardware store…" she refused to look at him as she spoke, instead focusing on the stern of a boat named Little Mermaid.

"He went to jail for 6 months. As Judge Triton passed sentence my dad looked right at me and said he never wanted to see me again, that he wanted me out of his house…that it was my fault."

"It took me a month to get all the legal papers in order but my petition for emancipation was granted in recorded time. I moved in with Mary Margaret and David…they are my dearest friends. I don't know what I would have done without them."

Mr. Gold had turned back to stare out at the docks same as she.

"Mrs. Granny didn't mention that."

She smiled faintly, "No, she wouldn't. Nobody will. The town might be small and Granny a beloved gossip but that story is one you'll only hear from me…maybe my father, but that is doubtful. My friends are loyal, that story is one everyone knows…how could they not? But everyone is rather…protective of me I guess you would say."

"I see."

She shrugged, "It's actually part of why I'm out here. My friends are all gathering together to figure out how to save me. I'm being a terribly selfish, ungrateful person by lying and skipping out on them. They are wonderful people but I've lived off their charity for too long, I can't keep being the girl that has to be saved."

She looked over to him, hands folded over the head of his cane.

"You lived with your friends until you went to college? How did you ever forgive your father?" he turned back to her, his face screwed into an unbelieving, hard face, his voice was even hard, "How in the heavens did you come to take on his debt and the business? Why would you step into that mess for the man that threw you out? That's idiotic!"

She flinched, "He's my father. We began to mend fences when I was in college. Granny had bought the inn, bless her heart…my dad went to work at the cannery, he was doing better. He went to AA, he was…stable and I thought I maybe owed him a chance…"

"You bloody well did not. Any man that throws out his blood that blames his daughter for his own reckless and selfish mistakes is no man worth a second chance. He also certainly does not deserve a daughter that would take on his foolish business mistakes."

His tone was brutal, pitiless and it nearly scared her. "He is the only family I have left. So I took on the business…I let Rupert into my life too, he wanted to help me…and at the time I thought…I thought…" she trailed off suddenly running out of words.

"You thought what?" he damned.

She opened to answer him but her blaring cell phone cut her off. "Oh! Excuse me," she mumbled and fumbled for her cell in her pocket.

"Hello? …um, I'm so sorry Ruby, I'm feeling horrible. I think it was something I ate…No, I'm sure I'll be fine…No, no don't come over! I'll be fine tomorrow I'm sure. I'm so sorry I ruined your dinner; I'll make it up to you I promise! …Oh, tell Emma to save me a piece, I'll have it tomorrow…. No really, I appreciate it, but I think I'm just going to go to sleep… I will, love you guys too …Goodnight."

"Sorry about that…I meant to call them earlier but I…."

"You were distracted, I feel that was probably my fault," he snorted lightly and made a sound that reminded her of ones her mother used to make when she was displeased with her father.

"I was, but please don't apologize. I'm sorry I dumped my sob story on you… Okay maybe I'm not, I needed to vent and I knew you wouldn't pity me. So I guess maybe I'm sorry I used you." She looked to him, his face in profile. He seemed to be fighting a smile. She smiled and directed her gaze back to the boats.

"Yes, it doesn't change anything though. I'm still going to kick you out of your home and sell your business."

"Yep, I know."

Silence fell about them but she didn't think it was entirely unpleasant. Wasn't that weird? Shouldn't it be awkward and unpleasant? Shouldn't she hate this man and not want to be anywhere near him?

"Is there anywhere in this blasted to town to get a drink that doesn't employ chatty waitresses?"

She grinned, she found she was indeed doing this at an alarming rate around him. She probably should try and be sterner around him. She really shouldn't be treating him like a friend. She had real friends that she was lying to right now so she could sit with the lion that was just waiting to eat her for dinner. She really was as strange as they said.

"I think I know a place…"

Thank you guys SO much for reviewing the last chapter, think that was the most reviews for a chapter yet, it really means a lot and it really does motivate me!
I was really rather excited about this chapter…and in general where this story is headed. I had a pretty rough plot when I started but it's beginning to flesh its self out! YAY! Please keep the reviews coming, they are wonderful motivation! I'll try not to jump POV as often as I did here…but it just kind of happened so I hope you enjoy!

(PS, all the typeos and mistakes are mine here...my brain goes faster than my fingers...and I'm my own worst editor! Please bear with me!)