Appendix Three: Belle meets Ruby

Belle studied the menu. "Let's see. Eggs, bacon . . . where are the potatoes?"

Mr. Gold pointed.

"Hash browns?" Her menu dropped so that her blue eyes could meet his. "What in the world is that?"

He pondered, "Now that you mention it, I'm not quite sure."

"No pot of tea?" Belle frowned, and continued to search the menu.

Mr. Gold explained, "They'll give you a cup with a teabag."

"Tea bag?" Eyebrows raised.

"You'll see!"

Belle wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Mr. Gold gave her a charming smile, "One does what one must."

Belle shook her head and muttered, "I hope this is worth it to meet the 'talker' you mentioned.''

"Oh, my dear, it is. It certainly is," Mr. Gold assured her.

"Well then, where is she?' Belle looked around and spotted a scantily clad waitress sitting by the bar.

Bell's mouth fell open, "She's in her underclothes!"

Mr. Gold let his eyes rove over Ruby's outfit. "I suppose that's one way of looking at it."

"Rumpel. . ." Belle lightly slapped his wrist.

"Bill!" He hissed, "I'm Bill. Bill!"

Belle rolled her eyes, "The Queen isn't very creative, 'Bill Gold?'"

"Another discussion for another day," he said and put his hand over hers. "Just be patient. She'll make her way here eventually." He paused and began cautiously, "And I know that I am the last

person to give fashion advice, but maybe… try… removing the ribbon from your hair?" He braced himself.

"Why?" Belle asked, looking puzzled, and a little offended.

Mr. Gold refused to meet her eyes, "Well, it makes you look rather…."

He ventured a glance at her and something in her eyes told him to stop.

He would try again later.

But that cost him a few minutes of good graces. Mr. Gold accepted it without complaint. He really had a lot to make up for considering his behavior after the kiss in Fairy Tale Land. However, the price was nothing compared to being with her again. So, he let it go and allowed Belle to continue muttering and shaking her head as she read the rest of the menu. Finally, after a suitable amount of time passed, Mr. Gold felt that the other awkward conversation had to happen.

"Belle?" Her head popped above the menu. "There's something I haven't yet told you about Ella," he began.

"Yes?" Belle asked expectantly.

Mr. Gold continued, "First of all, her name here is Ashley."

"Ashley?" Belle repeated, brows knitting.

Mr. Gold continued without comment, "And secondly, she has a . . ."

A loud voice interrupted, "What about Ashley?" Mr. Gold sighed, giving up all hope of broaching the subject when Ruby appeared as at light speed by their table.

"What about her?" Belle addressed the question to Mr. Gold.

Ruby ignored her. "Listen," she leaned in to Mr. Gold, pointing an accusing finger, "She's my best friend and you nearly ruined her life!"

Belle arched an eyebrow at Mr. Gold.

"I really did," he admitted.

Ruby nearly exploded. "And he has no problem admitting it! No shame!" She turned to Belle, "So listen, Dorothy, whatever he's trying to trick you into…"

"Dorothy?" Belle frowned.

"Ribbon?" Mr. Gold reminded her.

"Hey!" Ruby said, leaned over the middle of the table to interrupt their conversation, both thumbs pointed at her, "Me here. Look here. I will not let you. . ."

"But you see, dearie," Mr. Gold interjected with a placating look, "that's all in the past. Water under the bridge. Look to tomorrow. One day at a time."

Ruby gritted her teeth, "Don't. Even. Start. You took her soon-to be father in law's money, not caring about what would happen to Ashley or her . . .!"

"Actually, I gave the money back!" Mr. Gold quickly interrupted.

"You did?" Ruby asked incredulously.

"'I made a deal," Mr. Gold shrugged. "I didn't keep my end of the bargain, so it was only right to give him a refund. Look to the bright side! It all worked to Ashley's advantage in the end. When's the happy day? Tomorrow, isn't it?"

"The day after," Ruby shook her head, "not that it's any of your business. And you know what? I don't believe a word of it!"

"If I'm lying," Mr. Gold informed her, "you can always ask Ashley."

"Oh, I will." She whipped out her phone, "and I'll warn her about Tink, here."

"Belle! My name is Belle!" Belle corrected rather crossly.

Ruby ignored her again, and walked away texting.

"You didn't take our order," Mr. Gold called.

"In a minute," Ruby yelled behind her.

"Dorothy? Tink?" Belle was turning rather red, and not with embarrassment.

"I tried to explain to you about the clothes, and especially the ribbon . . ."

"What's so wrong with a ribbon in a lady's hair?" Belle's voice was rising.

Before he could answer, Ruby returned. "Ok, the story checks out. But what's with Ella Enchanted?"

"Belle!"

Ruby still only addressed Mr. Gold, "You aren't making a deal with this little one."

Belle protested, "I am not little!"

"So why are you dressed like a three-year old?" Ruby asked, finally turned to her with a smiling sneer.

"Like I'm three! What the . . .?" Belle's face was growing redder.

Ruby shook her head, "Never mind, never mind, Princess. So if he's not making a deal, what are you doing with him?"

Belle raised her chin in pride, "We're engaged."

Ruby threw her head back and laughed.

"Belle," Mr. Gold muttered urgently, "we still haven't settled. . . ."

"Engaged!" Belle said firmly, eyes holding Ruby's.

"So where's the ring, Aurora?" Ruby shot back.

"Why do people keep asking about rings?" Belle looked to Mr. Gold.

Ruby leaned in, "Because you're not really engaged until there's a ring and a date. The 'engaged,'" Ruby made quotation marks, "is how he gets into your skirt!"

"Ruby," Mr. Gold moaned. This was going to get ugly.

Belle slid out of the booth, hands on hips, legs planted a foot apart and looked up into Ruby's face. The latter only cackled condescendingly at the much smaller woman.

"Our order, Miss Ruby," Mr. Gold said quickly, grabbing Belle by the arm and gently, but firmly, pulling her back to her seat.

'Yeah, yeah. I got it." Ruby scribbled on her pad, "Eggs, bacon, and toast."

"We didn't order that!" Belle protested.

A touch of Mr. Gold's hand on hers gave her pause. "Let's just go with her suggestion."

Belle shook her head. "Fine," she smiled after a minute. "We'll see how it compares with my cooking. And I am not going to let it go!" she half-whispered the last rather viciously across the table.

"Her cooking is not even close, dear," Mr. Gold diplomatically soothed her, taking her hand and kissing it.

"I wasn't talking about the cooking, and stop trying to distract me!" Belle warned. "She's staring,"

Mr. Gold looked over to see Ruby with a visage that embodied one who had a looming date with the Porcelain God.

"She'll recover," Mr. Gold dismissed. "Now, let's talk about what you will discuss with Ashley."

"We still haven't figured out how to meet her," Belle reminded him.

"Oh, yes we have." His eyes flashed triumph. "Didn't you see Ruby texting?

"Texting?" Belle asked.

"I'll explain later," Mr. Gold told her. "But after breakfast, I will drive you to her apartment."

Ruby set down the food with a clatter. Belle looked daggers at her until she had gone back to the kitchen, then began eating saying wiith a smile. "Something tells me you know more than you're saying."

"Of that," Mr. Gold assured her, "I can guarantee!"

Belle laughed, "You're about to make a deal, aren't you?"

"All in good time," he sang.

"And you thought you'd lose your power when you broke your curse!" Belle rebuked him. "Silly, stupid cursed men."

"Rightly reprimanded. I suppose the 'uncursed' me just changed teams."

Belle pointed, "And you are going to find out that deals with the power of good are so much more fun!"

"Finish up then, dearie." Mr. Gold gestured to her food, "We have some curses to break!"