Author's note: Sorry about the wait :) I hope you like this one. Please review and comment, all the mistakes are mine. Thank you for reading :)
"Where am I?" Ruby heard the soft, vulnerable voice, and her eyes shot open, immediately throwing off the blanket and sitting up straight. For a moment, she was speechless. Belle had never looked at her like this before; her eyes lost and full of confusion. Ruby wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a glimmer of recognition, or at least some form of feeling when she saw the werewolf.
"You're in hospital," stammered Ruby eventually, when Belle raised an eyebrow as Ruby just stared.
"What happened to me?" she asked; her attention and her hand being drawn to the bandage on her shoulder.
"You were shot. You… when you fell, you must have hit your head. Dr Whale said you most likely would have amnesia." Ruby sincerely hoped that Belle didn't hear her voice crack slightly on the word 'amnesia'.
"Right…" Belle's brow furrowed as she tried to process everything. "How long have I been here?"
"Two days," replied Ruby. She had only left twice – for a maximum of four hours – and had been dozing on and off at Belle's bedside.
"Who are you? And who was that man that found me?" asked Belle, looking at her properly for the first time. Ruby desperately looked for any recognition, but Belle's blue eyes were dull, the spark that used to light them now dimmed.
"I'm Ruby. I'm… a friend," she said quietly. She felt the emotion well up within her. She wanted to tell her everything, but that was way too much to take in, and she didn't want Belle to be scared away. And she doubted she could actually hold up if Belle questioned it. She was already nearly breaking. "And the man was Mr Gold."
"He…" Belle stopped and frowned. She could remember the man holding a ball of fire. That was NOT normal, was it? Maybe it was, she didn't know.
"He what?" inquired Ruby as gently as she could, seeing Belle's teeth press down on her lip like she always did when she was thinking.
"Nothing, it was nothing." Belle did not want to sound crazy, not when this woman clearly cared about her. She didn't want to worry the only person she felt comfortable with in this place.
"Are you sure?" asked Ruby tenderly. Belle was about to answer when the door opened. Both women turned towards it, Ruby glancing over her shoulder.
"Miss Lucas." Mr Gold stood in the door way with his cane, a folded newspaper under his arm.
"Gold," she replied coldly, standing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Belle squinting slightly, as if trying to work out who he was to her. She also knew that Belle was probably sensing the sudden chill in the atmosphere.
"I require a word with Belle." Ruby didn't move but stood rooted to the spot, her teeth bared ever so slightly in a menacing growl. Then she felt a feather light touch on her arm.
"I'll be fine," whispered Belle quietly. Ruby shot a glare at Gold, who looked unperturbed. Ruby took Belle's hand, giving it a squeeze.
"You just shout if you need me, okay?" she said earnestly. Belle caught her sincerity and nodded, biting her lip. Ruby turned and squared up to Gold, her nose inches from his. She was glad of her slight height advantage.
"You have an hour," she stated quietly. Gold gave a small huff of a laugh.
"I will not be dictated to by a mutt."
"This mutt will bite your head off if you do anything to Belle," she growled, fists clenching.
"I think she is in safer hands with me than with a wolf," he replied calmly.
"Listen, imp…"
"Look," he said, cutting her off. He raised the newspaper and tossed it over his shoulder. "Fetch," he said with a small smirk, his eyes meeting Ruby's. The pools of hazel flashed gold as Ruby reached forwards, gripping him by the lapels. "I wouldn't do that in front of your little love." Ruby glanced over to see Belle looking anxious and a little scared at the hushed conversation and Ruby's actions. Grumbling, Ruby let go and sauntered out.
"Thank you, Ruby," called Belle quietly. Ruby paused in the doorway and looked at Belle, her eyes full of love.
"Anytime," she replied as she left; her bad mood evaporating with those few little words. Walking down to the waiting room, she called Emma to come and pick her up. Snow had called her earlier that day – sounding rather miffed – to say that Emma's leg had finally mended itself with a little help from Regina's magic. Ruby had chuckled at Snow's tone; the teacher was glad that her daughter was well again, but the fact that Regina had been the source of it was a little much for her to handle. Snow had then ranted about Regina for the next fifteen minutes while Ruby half-listened, playing absent-mindedly with the sleeping Belle's fingers. Ruby's plan now was to go back and report Belle's condition to the others, maybe get a decent meal from Granny afterwards. She knew Gold wouldn't hurt Belle. He loved her. That was the only thing they shared, their love for Belle. After waiting for ten minutes, she saw the distinctive bright yellow car pull up in front of the building. Smiling, she hurried out, hands over her head to shield her from the rain. It was a shame; the rain had melted the snow by now, and Ruby couldn't help but think over her and Belle's little adventures in the white powder. It hurt, but she clung onto them like a lifeline.
"Hey, Rubes," said Emma as Ruby wrenched open the door and climbed inside.
"Hey," replied Ruby, shutting the door and strapping herself in. Emma rolled onto the road and began their journey back, squinting through the rain drops on the windscreen before they were scraped away by the window wipers.
"How's Belle?" asked Emma, glancing at Ruby, trying to gauge the situation by her facial expressions.
"She's fine. She's with Gold," Ruby said flatly. "She can't remember. There are times I think I can see the old Belle, but then it passes."
"We'll find a cure; they're already working on it."
"I don't trust Gold," she said gruffly, folding her arms.
"He won't hurt her," replied Emma, trying to ease Ruby's mind.
"If he does, he won't live long enough to regret it."
"I'm sure nobody will stand in your way," said Emma with a smile. Ruby returned her smile, feeling a little better, but there was a bad feeling in her gut.
"Ruby!" squealed Snow as a tired Ruby entered the diner, Emma following close behind her. Ruby was engulfed in a tight hug, which she returned happily, but was slightly confused as to why. Looking over Snow's shoulder, she saw Regina rising elegantly from the table. Seeing nobody else in the diner, she realised that Snow and Regina must have been stuck here, with only each other's company. The thought made Ruby smirk a little. "I feel like I haven't seen you for ages!"
"I know!" replied Ruby. Snow released her and Ruby headed over to the counter as Granny appeared from the kitchen.
"Finally dragged your tail back here, then?" she said gruffly, but with a wide smile on her face. Ruby leaned over and gave her Granny a tight hug, the familiar scent of the woman instantly comforting her. Granny released her after a moment.
"You look like you haven't eaten well for days, girl. Stay right there, no complaints!" she added as Ruby opened her mouth to object, she didn't want Granny to go to any trouble. Smiling to herself, she realised how much she had missed her little family. She hadn't seen any of them properly for the past week or so. Turning, she was greeted by the sight of Regina and Emma sharing an intimate kiss by the doorway, and Snow leaning against a table, a frown on her face as she tried to look anywhere but at her daughter. Ruby sniggered at the former Queen's awkwardness. Said former Queen shot a glare at the wolf. The former Evil Queen was aware of the silent exchange between the two and, catching the eye of Ruby – who was still sniggering at Snow's obvious discomfort – let out a low moan. Snow's eyebrows rocketed into her hairline as she covered her face with her hand, her fist clenched against the edge of the table. Unable to restrain herself any more, Ruby let out a laugh that rent the silence, causing Regina and Emma to pull apart, Emma looking confused while Regina's eyes flicked from the cackling Ruby to the embarrassed Snow, an amused smile on her lips.
"What?" asked Emma, looking to the other three; Ruby couldn't speak. Snow wouldn't speak. Regina just shrugged. After a moment, she clicked. "God, are you still not comfortable with this?" she asked, her tone exasperated.
"I said nothing," replied Snow, holding up her hands.
"You didn't have to," smiled Emma, sitting opposite her mother. She knew that there would always be tension between Regina and Snow, and it was a lot to ask that her mother be okay with her daughter loving Snow's step-mother, but she was glad they were at the stage where they could laugh about it. And that Regina and Snow could stay in the same room without killing each other or throwing snide remarks about apples.
"At least we cheered up Ruby," said Regina, resting a hand on Emma's shoulder – Snow couldn't suppress a little glare – and then crossing the room to perch on the next table, slightly closer to Ruby. Ruby had nearly recovered from her laughing fit. She had needed that, after days of worrying non-stop. Though Ruby wasn't ready to forgive Regina for her past crimes, she, more than anyone, knew the value of a second chance. Snow had accepted her for who she was. Now she was prepared to do the same for Regina. She was a little wary of her still, but she made Emma happy. And she had proven herself.
"Ruby, sit up straight, girl!" snapped Granny as Ruby opened her mouth to reply. Granny placed a plate of pancakes and bacon in front of Ruby and shuffled off again. "And tables are for eating, not sitting, your Majesty," she added as the old woman entered the kitchen again. Regina looked a little taken aback, eyebrows raised in surprise, but her amused smile blossomed on her lips as she took a seat next to Ruby, leaving one stool in between them. Ruby noticed this and patted the stool next to her, gesturing for Regina to come closer.
"It's alright, I don't bite," she said lightly. Regina moved closer gratefully. Regina was aware that some residents still weren't keen on her. Her first reaction would be to avoid them until she required their help for whatever reason, but for Henry and Emma's sake, she made an effort. But she didn't intrude or force her company on people. She waited to be invited in. And it happened surprisingly often.
"I'm sorry about Belle," said Regina after a minute of silence, save only for Ruby's cutlery against the plate. Snow and Emma were still talking at their table.
"Thank you."
"If you need something…" the former Queen started, but she couldn't seem to find the words to finish.
"I will, Regina," Ruby replied. After that, they began talking amicably as Ruby finished her meal.
Ruby strode back into the hospital in higher spirits than she had an hour ago. The sun was beginning its descent into the horizon. Regina had just dropped her off on her way to pick up Henry, and Ruby said she'd call if she needed anything. Ruby climbed the stairs and walked down the corridor to Belle's room. Opening the door, she froze. Belle was gone. Ducking back out before panic overtook her completely, she located a nurse. She said that she hadn't seen Belle or Gold, but informed her that a patient called Belle French had been released earlier that day. Ruby growled as she left the poor nurse bemused. Ruby did not bother calling anyone. She reached the doors and sprinted, making a bee-line for Gold's shop. Gold had gone too far. He was meddling, trying to twist this situation so that he came out on top. Ruby was not about to give up without a fight.
"GOLD!" roared Ruby, throwing the doors of his shop open. Mr Gold stood at the counter in his flawless suit.
"Miss Lucas, what a pleasant surprise-" he started, but Ruby leaned across the counter and grabbed his head, smashing it against the glass top. It didn't shatter, but the glass cracked, creating a pattern of spider web fractures through it. Gold moaned in pain, clutching his head.
"What have you done with her?" she demanded, yanking his hair as she brought her face close to his ear. She could smell the blood from his cut above his eyebrow.
"I brought her home," he rasped in reply.
"I swear to God, Gold, I will kill you!" she yelled as she raised his head again, slamming it down on the glass again. Her ears picked up his moans of pain, the cane clattering to the floor, and a noise from upstairs. It didn't matter. She clenched her fist again in his hair, raising his head once more, about to send it crashing back down onto the blood stained, cracked glass when:
"What on earth is going on here?!" Ruby froze. The red haze of fury immediately drained from her. Looking up at the doorway that led to the back of the shop, she saw Belle, standing in a nightdress, looking afraid and angry.
"Belle…" she breathed. Her eyes met the aquamarine pools, and for a second, she convinced herself that the Belle she knew was looking back at her. It brought a small smile to her face. Then the moment shattered when Belle reached for a long wooden block from a table, holding it aloft.
"Get your hands off of him!" she yelled, taking a step forwards. Ruby realised her situation, how it must look. She released Gold and stepped back, bloodied hands held aloft as Gold slid to the floor.
"Belle, please, this isn't-" she began, but Belle's eyes were on Gold, an expression of deep concern that had previously only been directed at Ruby. She could almost hear her heart cracking. Ruby took another step back, not noticing that tears were falling down her face. Belle looked up, and Ruby could see the anger evaporating momentarily, as if she recognised her. Just for a moment.
"Ruby?" she said quietly, and for the first time, it sounded like the old Belle, uttering the name of her love instead of this Belle saying the name of a stranger.
"It's me," she whimpered in reply. Her strength was gone. She was broken. Belle let the wooden block fall to her side as she took a shaking step forwards, a tear in her left eye. Then she shook her head.
"I think you should leave," she said coldly. It took everything Ruby had not to collapse to the floor and weep.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly as she turned and left the shop, slamming the door behind her and running. Just running. Into the woods. When she couldn't run any more, she just stopped, falling against a tree as sobs wracked her body, tears falling freely. She gripped the tree trunk so hard her nails scratched deep gouges into the bark. The rains of the night before had washed away the snow. The same rain now poured down on her, diluting her tears. However it could not ease her grief. Nothing could. All she wanted was to kill Gold for taking her away from her. But Belle would hate her more. Damned if she did. Damned if she didn't. Basically, she was damned.