Hello again :) I think a bit of fluff is in order after all of that, and there is a time-skip to Christmas - don't ask why I'm writing about Christmas in July - and it just seemed like a good time to get some really good story lines. As always, all mistakes are mine, no beta, was written in the boiling heat, and please review and comment :) Thanks for reading and sticking with it.
As soon as they reached the library, Ruby let them in with the spare key she always carried. Belle hurried through the door to the office, emerging with a first aid kit that she kept there for emergencies. Instructing Ruby to sit at the desk, Belle perched on the edge as she ever so gently took Ruby's injured hand in her own and rummaged for a disinfectant. She gave Ruby a warm smile as she searched with her free hand, finally coming across a pack of disinfectant wipes. Drawing one out, she paused before applying it.
"This might sting," she warned. Ruby smirked, her memories of the battles she had fought as Red rushing back to her.
"I've had worse," Ruby replied, grinning. Belle inclined her head and began to gently dab the wound, glancing up to see if Ruby was in pain. Ruby grimaced a little a few times, but made no sound. Belle checked to see if there were any small shards of glass left in the cut, which was long but shallow – it would not require stitches, thankfully. Satisfied with the state of the wound, she wrapped it in a bandage securely. Once finished, she tapped Ruby's hand lightly and jumped off of the desk, heading towards the apartment.
"Thank you," Ruby said as she followed on Belle's heels. She was glad to see Belle's walk, which had been altered a little when she lost her memories and when she was Lacey. It was just another reminder that Belle was back.
"You're welcome," replied Belle as she paused, allowing Ruby to walk in front as she held the keys.
Belle hurriedly pulled on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a blue top, the first things she grabbed and put on her heeled boots, before walking into the living room to see Ruby pacing.
"Why are you so jumpy?" she asked, amused as she approached Ruby.
"Full moon tonight," Ruby replied apologetically, flexing her fingers and trying to relax. She winced slightly as her wound was stretched and more blood oozed out, staining a tiny red dot through the white bandages.
"You'll tread a hole in the carpet," said Belle, drawing close enough to Ruby to make her nervous again. She wasn't sure what to do, given that Belle was probably more mixed up than anyone at this point, having her identity lost twice. However, Ruby relaxed when Belle reached up, still on tip-toe, despite the boots, and pressed her lips against Ruby's gently. She pulled back shortly, looking a little concerned. "Too soon?" she asked, knowing it had been hard for Ruby these past few weeks.
"Not soon enough," replied Ruby, smiling, before she bent and wrapped her arms around Belle's waist, kissing her more deeply this time.
"We should go check on Emma," said Ruby eventually. Belle gave a disappointed groan as Ruby pulled away but smiled happily as she led the way out of the apartment. Gold had only grabbed a few things from her apartment when she lost her memories, and Lacey had bought everything she wore, so most of her things were up here, untouched.
"In a fight, who would win; Regina or Snow?" asked Belle as they emerged into the bright sunlight, walking hand in hand to Snow's.
"That's a tough one," replied Ruby as she considered it.
As the newly reunited pair approached Snow's door, they heard shouting from behind. Or, Belle did. Ruby had been aware of it, but hadn't tuned in, too busy discussing a hypothetical battle between Snow and Regina. When Ruby opened the door, it seemed that they were about to witness said battle as Snow stood at one end of the couch, shoulders hunched and arms thrown out in frustration, her eyes glinting furiously as Regina stood at the other end, her lips drawn taut and her fists clenched. Emma was sitting with an ice pack against her head next to David, both of them wearing identical expressions of irritation and frustration at the other two.
"She always gets injured when you're around-"
"What, you think I'm trying to kill your daughter? Wouldn't I have done it by now-?"
"Snow, I think you're going a little far with this-"
"Dad's right, Mum-"
"Emma, David, stay out of this. And how do we know you aren't plotting something?"
"You're judging me for my past now? After I saved everyone-"
"Ahem, we saved everyone-"
"Emma, I swear to God-"
"Don't talk to my daughter like that!"
"Oh my God, guys, just stop-"
"She took out my heart!"
"She killed my mother!"
"Your mother killed my mother!"
"Your mother made my mother kill your mother!"
"WILL BOTH MY MOTHERS STOP FIGHTING FOR A SECOND?" yelled Henry from the corner, getting to his feet and standing between them. Ruby and Belle stood in the doorway, glancing at each other, silently asking if they should leave. They both agreed not to move but see how it played out. All eyes darted between Henry, Regina and Emma.
"Look, Emma did what she did to get Belle back. And look, she's fine," said Henry, being the only one in the room to notice the two in the doorway. All heads turned in the direction Henry was pointing and Belle and Ruby looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Hope we're not interrupting," said Ruby a little self-consciously.
"Belle, you're back? The real you?" asked Emma, looking from Ruby to Belle. Belle nodded happily. Emma broke into a wide smile and enveloped both of them in a hug. Belle, though surprised, laughed. Ruby was more used to this. Regina walked past, completely ignoring Snow's evil-eye as she did so, but made a very impolite gesture at her from behind her back as Charming snorted a laugh at Snow's expression.
"So the talisman worked?" she asked Belle, scrutinising Belle's face closely.
"It seems that way. Thank you, Regina," she said. Not really much of a hugger, and sensing that Regina was the same, she held out a hand. Regina quirked an eyebrow but took it and they shook. Regina leaned in close to Belle's ear.
"And I really am sorry about the whole locking you up thing."
"It's alright," replied Belle. "Friends?"
"Friends," replied Regina with a genuine smile, breaking their handshake and stepping back to the sofa. Snow stepped forwards, knocking shoulders with Regina, forcing the other to misstep ever so slightly, threw her arms around Belle.
"I'm so glad you're back," she said, pulling back and looking closely at Belle's face. "Ruby was at a loss without you."
"Snow!" coughed a wide-eyed Ruby as subtly as possible, but caught her friend's sly grin.
"In fact, she –" But she didn't get to finish, because at that point, Ruby had wrapped her arm around Belle's and manoeuvred her over to the sofa next to Regina and began making idle threats to Snow and Emma not to divulge her terrible state when Belle was gone. Belle watched her amusedly as she struck up a conversation with Charming, which Regina, hesitantly at first, joined.
"You know what?" said Henry, looking around the room at all the people. All of them stopped and looked at him. "We should have a family dinner, you know, to celebrate. It is Christmas coming up."
Every person in the room all looked at each other.
"That's a great idea," said Charming. "It'll give us all a chance to know each other in a civilised manner." He said the last few words through gritted teeth as he looked directly at his wife, who huffed. Ruby was amused whenever Snow's personality shone through. She and Mary Margaret were so different; it was really strange to see her acting like the fierce warrior she used to know.
"Yeah," smiled Emma. "Brilliant idea, Henry," she said holding her hand out and subtly hi-fiving him, but only Ruby could see from her angle. A sly grin formed on her face. This was planned, she realised. The grin was knocked off of her face as Emma turned to her.
"You'll come too?" she asked. Ruby glanced at Snow, who nodded, - a little desperately, mouthing something like 'Help me with Regina'.
"Oh," replied Ruby. In all honesty, she had completely forgotten about Christmas coming up with everything that had been going on. Plus the weird weather knocked her season-tracking off. Her eyes darted to Belle, who was smiling. "But I'm not really family-"
"Of course you are!" said Snow, Charming, Emma and Henry at the same time. Ruby's eyebrows rose in surprise as Belle chuckled at her expression.
"Okay then."
"Belle?" asked Snow, turning to the librarian. Now it was Ruby's turn to laugh, as Belle looked truly shocked at being included in a family celebration.
"Uh- yes, I'd love to," she replied, managing a smile, but Ruby recognised it as the one that hid how touched she was by someone's kindness.
"Then it's settled," said Emma. "Christmas dinner."
Ruby and Belle returned home after having a few drinks at Snow's. When Belle closed the door to her apartment above the library, she turned to see Ruby throwing herself on the sofa, propping her feet up on the coffee-table.
"Boots," Belle said as she passed, picking up her mail and gently whacking Ruby's face with it as she passed. Ruby groaned but moved her feet.
"So… what do you think of dinner?" she asked as she heard Belle put the kettle on.
"I think it sounds lovely," she said, returning to the living room and leaning against the doorframe.
"I think it sounds like World War Three." Ruby pulled off her boots and replaced her feet on the coffee table, stretching her arms out over the back of the sofa and closing her eyes.
"Yes, I imagine with Snow and Regina, sparks will undoubtedly fly."
"Should be fun to watch though," said Ruby. Belle returned to the kitchen. "Not as much fun as what I had planned for Christmas though," she said, a little quieter.
"What was that?" called Belle from the kitchen, sticking her head through the door.
"Nothing important!" Ruby replied. She smiled. She could surprise Belle with that another night.
Belle cooked dinner for them both and they ate at the dining table. Belle noticed Ruby kept checking the clock.
"You want me to let you out when you turn?" she asked as she swallowed another mouthful of lasagne.
"Hmm?" Ruby looked up. "Sorry, distracted," she smiled apologetically. Her senses were going wild. She had about half an hour or so before she turned, she thought. The only thing was it wasn't just her senses that were going haywire. After a few minutes, Belle took their plates and dumped them in the sink before walking up to Ruby. Ruby, surprised at the closeness as Belle sat on her lap, opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off when Belle's lips met hers. Ruby revelled in the proximity to Belle, relishing the feeling of the shorter woman's tongue running over her own, before she felt herself teetering on the edge of control. Pulling back, she took a cleansing breath.
"Belle, I'm not going to be able to stop," she said, not wanting to do anything Belle might not want to after recent events.
"Don't you think I'd know that by now?" asked Belle, sliding her hand up Ruby's neck and resting on her cheek. "I want to," she said. "I want things they used to be." That was all Ruby needed. She grinned wolfishly as she kissed Belle again, lifting her up and carrying her easily to the bedroom.
Belle woke up, her legs tangled in the cool sheets as she looked around her dark room. Though she was alone, she didn't feel lonely. She could remember Ruby slipping out from under the covers and hearing the door close over quietly. Belle smiled as images flashed back in her mind, with them sensations that made her shiver with pleasure. Content, she lay back comfortably on the double bed and, as a test, whispered Ruby's name. After a moment or two, she heard the answering howl from far away in the forest. She grinned, chuckling slightly as she relaxed and dozed off peacefully for the first time in weeks.
Ruby made it back to the library just before dawn. Slinking inside the unlocked door, she closed it carefully behind her as she trotted through the stacks, panting slightly. Sunlight streamed through the windows as she changed, approaching the stairs as a human. Walking up the steps as quietly as possible, she fished the key from the pocket of her hoodie that she had thrown on. The air was definitely cooler than it was yesterday, greyish-white clouds rolling in from the west as the sun came up. Unlocking the door, she slipped inside, shedding her layer of clothes as hurriedly as she had pulled them on, throwing them onto the couch – she would get hell for that later – and approached the bedroom. And there was Belle, curled up in the sheets, her hair splayed perfectly across the pillow. Taking a moment to appreciate the sight of her love so peaceful, she then gently slipped inside the covers, warming her chilled body. She kept to her side of the bed, not wanting to wake Belle, but it was in vain. Belle groaned sleepily.
"Ruby?" she said slowly, her sleepy state emphasising the vowels.
"Morning," replied Ruby. Belle rolled over and stroked her face with a warm hand.
"You're freezing," smiled Belle, moving to give Ruby some more covers – Belle was a duvet-hogger. Ruby smiled appreciatively as she wrapped her arms around Belle's' warm body, the pair of them fitting together perfectly.
"You're roasting," replied Ruby with a gentle kiss on Belle's cheek.