A/N: New chapter YAY!

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT.

Chapter 8

************Storybrooke**************

Ruby walked into her room, she needed to clean up after the 'incident' at the mayor's house. Closing the door she sighed and a tear fell from her dark lashes. She kept hearing the mayor's words, 'I never want to see you near my son'. The way she said 'you' stabbed at Ruby. She knew what the mayor thought of her, what everyone thought of her. She couldn't go anywhere without there being that one creeper who would go that extra mile, like Dr. Whale.

So she decided to do something a little different, like the kid said, 'out of character'. After cleaning up she looked into her closet and picked out a pair of jeans she swore she had lost. They fit like a glove, looking in the mirror she gave an approving nod. Next was a shirt she hadn't worn in forever, a deep crimson shirt that matched her hair. It had nice poofy sleeves that came right above her elbow, it also had a cool collar.

Looking in the mirror she gasped, she looked completely different! Not a bad different either. She had washed off all her make-up and felt a little exposed, so she put on just a touch of mascara and eyeliner, with a dab of not-so-bright red lipstick. She smiled into the mirror, this look would be a head turner for everyone who had once known her. But she felt different since being with Henry. She felt free, even if she was still in Storybrooke.

Walking out she felt confident, good, for once. Henry was a good kid, and she hated the thought of what Regina might make him think of her. Even though she felt good, she still went there... she needed to.

She hadn't been to him in awhile, she had thought she didn't need him anymore. But she was wrong, she did need him, here and there when she felt bad, he was a security net to Ruby. He was one of the only males in this stupid town who knew the truth about her. Walking into the still familiar office of Archie Hopper, she knocked on the door.

Archie opened the door with a surprised expression. But then he stood up taller and gave her a friendly smile. "Hello Ruby, haven't seen you in awhile."

Ruby nodded. "I need to talk to someone."

He opened the door to let her in, that warm smile never faltering, never forced either. It was a smile Ruby didn't know a man could have, but it was a nice smile, caring. "Then let's get started, oh and by the way," Ruby sat down and looked at the therapist. "I like the outfit."

Ruby gave a small smile at the comment.

Emma got back into her car and headed home, the hospital would have to wait. She was so tired from everything that was going on, even though it was only five at night, she was exhausted. An early sleep was in order.

She unlocked the door to the apartment she shared with Mary Margaret. Putting her keys on the table next to the door she noticed Mary sitting on the couch wrapped in a cover, drinking cocoa. She sat up with a start at Emma's entrance.

"Something wrong?" Mary Margaret almost never drank cocoa, mostly coffee. She nodded and Emma sat down next to her.

"Is this about David?" Emma asked. Mary Margaret's eyes almost bugged right out of her head.

"How did you... I mean... What." Mary Margaret sputtered.

"It was pretty obvious," Emma retorted. "You weren't that secretive. I knew how you felt about him at the diner. And you haven't been discreet since."

Mary Margaret blushed, she didn't know Emma knew. But right now she needed to focus, David wasn't important right now. (A/N: *gasp*) "David's a jerk, but that's not what's wrong."

Emma looked at her friend curiously. "Well yeah he's a jerk, he's married, and by the way-"

Mary Margaret moved her hand to tell Emma she needed to stop. "Look I know, believe me I know, but right now I don't need a lecture. I need to tell you something."

"Well what is it?"

Mary Margaret bit her bottom lip, she didn't know where to start. "Well, you know how I volunteered for the hospital?"

Emma nodded, "After the storm?"

"Yeah. Well, I was walking around the outside and I tripped over a tree root and saw a window. It was at the base of the wall," Mary Margaret waited to see her friend's expression.

Emma's face became confused. "What do you mean, does the hospital even have a basement?"

Mary Margaret shrugged. "I don't think so... But that's not whats bothering me. I crouched to look through it, and I saw a room. There was a bed, at least I think it was a bed."

This seemed to interest Emma. "Wait, was someone down there?"

"Well I kinda cut my hand on some of the glass," she gestured to her injured hand. "But when I looked down, there was a lot of blood, way too much to come just from my hand."

Emma sat up straighter, "So someone's trapped down in the hospital? At least was."

Mary Margaret nodded. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Something's going on, and I don't like it."

Emma nodded, then looked at the clock, it was still early, but all the adrenaline of the conversation wore off fast, she was extremely tired again. Looking back at Mary Margaret she shrugged. "Well, there's nothing we can do right now. I'm heading to the hospital again tomorrow, I'll look into it."

Mary Margaret stayed wrapped in the blanket, eyes far off. Emma patted her shoulder as she picked up the mugs. "Hey, it's going to be okay."

********Enchanted Forest***********

Struggling through the ropes Red heard hollow laughter.

"There's no way you're getting out of this one."

Red cursed inside her head. How could she have been so stupid? There were obviously more than one man, he wasn't the only one. How could she have overlooked that?

She heard feet scuffling and more voices. "Glad she's finally awake," she heard one of the men say.

"Yeah, so this is the girl? Wow Grey you sure know how to pick 'em." More laughter.

Red felt disgusted, she was sitting here and they were acting like she was just a piece of meat. Without her sight it would be harder to fight, but she had to try. She had been in many battles, this wouldn't be anything special. She tried the innocent act again, to see if it was too late.

"Please, I just want my granny. Why are you doing this?" She said, her voice slightly quivering.

"Aw, come now princess, we know you can fight. Maybe not well, but can still leave a bruise or two," she heard Grey move closer to her, she tried to scoot away, but he had her face in his hands.

"I knew you looked familiar. Your the Red Bandit, heard you had a nasty brawl with some soldiers."

So this is what it was about. Awhile back she had gotten into a fight with some royal guards. She was on an errand, she was on her way to a trade, walking through a path was when it happened.

Black horses came hard and fast. Soon she was surrounded. The main man had said she was under arrest for theft of many kingdoms. It wasn't until one of the men spoke of her granny that she had lost it.

She had fought, using the skills that her parents had taught her so many years ago. She had killed two of the men before they ran. After that she had become 'The Red Bandit'. After killing those men she had become greatly sick and had stayed with her granny. She hadn't meant to kill them, it had just happened. And now she was caught.

I need a knife. She thought to herself. It was then that she realized something. She had none. She always had them in her folds, but couldn't feel a single one. She was helpless.

"What?" She heard a man say mockingly. "Did you really think we wouldn't search you? Quite a collection, and the weapons too." She could see the disgusting face of his and spat in his general direction.

"Where is my grandmother?" Her voice was hard and demanding.

"Oh don't worry about her, we took care of her." More horrendous laughter.

Red couldn't help it, her voice broke. "You killed her?"

Grey Wolfback spoke again. "No we didn't kill her, but we did tell her about the failure of her only granddaughter. From the look on her face, she might as well be dead."

"What did you tell her?" Red couldn't believe this was happening.

"The truth my dear. How you were arrested for being a most foul lady. Apparently one man didn't want your services but you wouldn't take no for an answer. You were arrested and then killed. Such a disgrace, don't you think boys?" They all grunted in approval.

Red couldn't believe it, how could her granny believe something like that? Red's life was crashing around her.

"Now I believe you said something to me earlier. And I'll bet you're the Smith's daughter. Remember from all those years ago, when we were thrown in prison," he knelt down beside her. "So this is the little girl. Well I won't lie, it's nice to finally meet you, you and your granny may have got us but as you can see, we got out."

The others were making comments about that night. Red felt her heart wrench with pain. So now they were gonna finish they job they had started with her parents.

"That's right Grey I remember. I put a blade through the old man's heart. Wasn't much of a fight though."

Red growled. "How did you know?"

"Well little girl, there were signs. Clothes only fit for a child, a stuffed animal, the usual," one of the men said. "Plus the picture Grey picked up."

"Such a pretty face," Grey commented. "And now we meet again." she heard him come closer. "Alrighty boys, first thing in the morning we turn her in. But the day is still young, still time for some fun."

She let out a growl that could only be described as animal. "If you touch me I swear you will wish you were dead."

She heard a whistle. "Well that answers that question boys. This girl is an animal, my kind of girl."

That did it for her. She rolled over on her back and kicked, she made contact with someone because she heard a man hit the ground hard. She was flexible so bending over she curved her body into a sitting position and jumped up.

She heard the slice of blades, they were throwing her own knives at her. Unfortunately her feet was bound and she lost her balance. Hitting the ground she moved her face on the ground to remove the blindfold from her eyes. She could now see. It wasn't a particular big room, the men were falling over one another, trying to either get up or get to her.

Laying next to her was a dropped knife, with a quick slit her feet were free, and she was gone. She ran out, the noon air filling her lungs. She heard shouts and the sounds of bows. She ran and ran. These men might be skilled hunters, but she was a fast runner.

Soon she had to stop, her lungs begging for oxygen. Slowing down she crouched at the trunk of a tree, using the knife to finish undoing her binds. She heard the noise of them running aimlessly through the forest. But after awhile she only heard silence. She then began to cry.

What was she going to do? Her parents were dead, and there was no way her granny would take her back. Her only other friend was a talking insect. She started crying into her lap. Her life was over, she had nothing else to live for.

"Hello dearie." Red froze. She only knew of one person to ever use that term of endearment. She didn't care anymore, for all she knew this could be one of the men, finding the rat in the trap.

"Just kill me," she whispered.

"Now why would I do that?" She heard the voice again. It was the same voice, but Red refused to believe that.

"Who-who are you," she stammered, praying it wasn't the answer she expected.

She heard approaching footsteps, then standing right in front of... "Rumpelstiltskin."

A/N: There you go guys, you finally know what happened to Red, so sorry for making you wait and wait and wait. (*isn't really sorry, laughing maniacally*) What is Rumpelstiltskin going to do? You'll just have to wait. MWAHAHAHAHA You know I think this was one of my longest chapters, so YAY.

BTW: Sorry if my timeline is a bit off, you know with Ruby talking to Archie during what seems to be the afternoon, and then MM and Emma going to bed, I tried.

So I finally decided to add in a few of the other characters. YAY Archie, he never gets enough love.

And with the MM&D "HELLO, it was freaking broad daylight, EVERYONE knew"